Paying for Care
Your search is over. Now, how do you pay for child care?
Costs for child care programs vary greatly by location, days and hours, the ages and number of children in care, and the type of child care. When you contact us for referrals you will be given information on the average costs of care for your area as well as rates for child care programs that have offered to share them with us. For more customized area rates, please contact our Referral Department at (585) 654-4720.
Market Rates
Many programs charge the “Market Rates,” rates set by the Office of Children and Family Services roughly every two years. Market Rates give an idea of county-wide average rates and are used for subsidy reimbursement.
Child Care Subsidies
Subsidies are income-based and eligibility varies by county and are subject to availability. For more information, contact your local Department of Social Services or complete pre-screening information at www.mybenefits.ny.gov to see if you might be eligible.
Monroe County Department of Human and Health Services
(585)753-6960
Livingston County Department of Social Services
(585)243-7300
Wayne County Department of Social Services
(315)946-4881
Tax Credits
State and federal tax credits are available for families with out-of-pocket child care expenses based on gross annual income. To claim credits, families must file federal and state tax returns. Make sure your provider will share his or her Employer Identification Number (or in some cases SSN) and give you a child care statement. Asking for the number upfront and keeping receipts can make tax filing smoother, especially if you change programs mid-year. For more information about Child and Dependent Care Credits, visit the Internal Revenue Service’s website.
Earned Income Tax Credit
Families making less than $51,567 per year may be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). For more information or to find out if you qualify, visit the IRS’s EITC page.
C.A.S.H. offers free tax prep and filing for eligible families. For more information, contact Empire Justice Center at (585) 454-4060.
Flexible Spending Accounts
Some employers offer flexible spending accounts which allow employees to designate pre-tax dollars to use for child care. Ask your human resources department about and child care or related benefits you might be eligible for.
Non-Child Care Assistance
Sometimes child care subsidies have waiting lists or a family makes too much but there are other forms of childcare assistance available in NY. Each program has its own income guidelines and eligibility criteria. Saving money on heat or groceries frees up a family budget to pay for child care more easily. To find out more about what you may qualify for, visit www.mybenefits.ny.gov to complete a free pre-screening and for information on a variety of programs in your area.
Military Child Care Programs
For information on military child care subsidy, contact Child Care Aware® at http://www.naccrra.org/military-families or 1-800-424-2246.
Workforce Development Institute (WDI) Child Care Subsidy Program
Provides child care subsidies for working families in Monroe County who earn too much to qualify through the local Department of Social Services. For more information or to find out if you qualify, visit WDI’s website.
