Childcare Vouchers and Affordable Childcare

Child care vouchers help cover the cost of child care for children 6 weeks to 13 years old. Children with disabilities up to 19 years old are also covered.

 
Childcare vouchers can help pay for various types of care, like center-based programs, home-based care, or care from an approved friend, family member, or neighbor. Available hours depend on the provider and can be up to 24 hours. Hours for regular days are from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.; for extended days, the hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
 
Parents are not required to be U.S. citizens to apply for a voucher. However, the child receiving care must be a U.S. citizen, a U.S. national, or have satisfactory immigration status. The size of your family, where you live, your income, and the reason you need care play a role in determining eligibility.
 
You also need to have ONE of the following reasons for care (in a two-parent household, both parents will need a reason for care):
 

• You work ten or more hours per week, and you must make at least minimum wage ($16/hour).
• You are in an educational or vocational training program.
• You have been looking for work.
• You live in a temporary housing. This includes families living in shelters or sharing the housing of others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reasons.
• You are attending services for domestic violence.
• You are receiving substance abuse treatment.

 
Find out your eligibility for a childcare voucher or an affordable childcare program at mycity.nyc.gov/s/screening-flow.
 
Note that if you are receiving cash assistance and are interested in child care assistance, you must apply through the Human Resources Administration. Please contact your Benefits Access Center or visit the Human Resources Administration’s website at https://a069-access.nyc.gov/accesshra.
 
If you’ve met with your HRA Benefits Access Center Case Planner and they’ve directed you to apply for child care assistance through MyCity, please proceed to the application at mycity.nyc.gov.
 
Once you submit your application for a childcare voucher, you can expect to hear back within a month with a letter. After you get your letter from ACS or get your request approved through HRA, please show your voucher to the childcare center of your selection. To locate childcare centers near your home, visit www.myschools.nyc.
 
For more information on applying for childcare vouchers or affordable childcare, visit mycity.NYC.gov and select “childcare” from the “Services” menu.
 
Updated on October 30, 2024