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. Hundreds of home-based and center-based providers across NYC accept child care vouchers and offer child care services in safe and positive learning environments.
- Vouchers cover some or all of your child care costs. Most families are required to pay part of the costs based on their income and family size. Your voucher will cover all of the costs if you are:
- a family on cash assistance
- a family experiencing homelessness
- a foster care parent
- You can use a voucher to pay for child care from licensed/regulated providers and approved informal providers like relatives, neighbors, or friends.
- Your child can enter a child care program any time during the year.
- Eligibility is based on your family’s income, size, and other needs.
- Parents are not required to be U.S. citizens. However, the child receiving care must be a U.S. citizen, a U.S. national, or have satisfactory immigration status.
- Voucher availability is dependent upon funding.
Who is eligible
You may qualify for a voucher if your household gets Cash Assistance or is experiencing homelessness. You may also qualify if your household earns less than the incomes shown below:
| Family size | Monthly income | Yearly income |
| 2 | $6,156 | $73.869.56 |
| 3 | $7,604 | $91,250.63 |
| 4 | $9,053 | $108,631.70 |
| 5 | $10,501 | $126,012.77 |
| 6 | $11,949 | $143,393.84 |
| 7 | $12,221 | $146,652.80 |
| 8 | $12,493 | $149,911.75 |
| 9 | $12,764 | $153,170.70 |
| 10 | $13,036 | $156,429.65 |
| 11 | $13,307 | $159,688.60 |
| 12 | $13,579 | $162,947.55 |
| 13 | $13,851 | $166,206.50 |
| 14 | $14,122 | $169,465.45 |
| 15 | $14,394 | $172,724.40 |
| 16 | $14,665 | $175,983.35 |
| 17 | $14,937 | $179,242.31 |
| 18 | $15,208 | $182,501.26 |
You also need to have one of these “reasons for care”:
- You work 10+ hours per week
- You are in an educational or vocational training program
- You have been looking for work
- You live in temporary housing (priority access)
- You are attending services for domestic violence
- You are receiving treatment for substance abuse
How to apply
Here are your options to apply:
- Apply online using the MyCity app.
- Mail your application
- Download and complete the application forms.
- Mail your completed forms and documents to:
NYC Children – EDU
PO Box 40, Maplewood, NJ 07040
- If you are one of these groups, see special instructions for applying for child care vouchers:
- A family experiencing homelessness
- A family receiving or was on Cash Assistance
- A family receiving child welfare services
- A working foster parent
How to get help
- Visit the ACS website to learn more.
- If you have questions, call the ACS CFWB Call Center at 212-835-7610.
- Find child care programs on NYC Child Care Connect or through the State’s Office of Children and Family Services page.
Other Child Care Programs
NYS Paid Family Leave (PFL)
NYS Workers' Compensation Board (NYS WCB)
Paid time off to care for family
Up to 12 weeks of paid time off to care for a new child, sick family member, and other situations.
NYC Child Care Connect (NYC CCC)
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH)
Find a licensed child care program
An online resource that helps you find and stay informed about a child care program in your community.
Infants and Toddlers
NYC Department of Education (DOE)
Free or low-cost child care for children six weeks to two years old
Early child care and education services for up to 10 hours a day.
Updated October 28, 2024