Affordable day care is available in Westchester

Westchester County provides financial help with day care payments to eligible families. This financial help is known as Child Day Care Subsidy. DSS also funds scholarships administered by the Child Care Council of Westchester. The Westchester County Child Care Scholarship is for working families in Westchester who are over income for public subsidies but have difficulty paying for child care. For more information, visit Child Care Council of Westchester.

It now costs less to participate in the Child Care Subsidy Program. This is due to the change in Westchester County's parent share rate. Prior to April 1, 2008 the parent/guardian's mandatory Child Day Care payment was 15 percent of his or her gross income over the poverty level for the household size. The child day care subsidy customer's current mandatory payment is only 10 percent of gross household income over the poverty level.

For further information, call (914) 995-2642 to speak with the application supervisor. The office is located at 10 County Center Road, 2nd Floor, White Plains, NY 10607. Forms can be requested by calling (914) 995-5477, (914) 995-6521 or (914) 995-6522.

Eligibility for subsidy

The family's eligibility for a child day care subsidy is based on the need for care, service unit size and household gross income.  The household must be programmatically eligible and financially eligible and must also use an eligible provider.  Households with working parents and gross household income under the maximum allowed for the service unit size may be eligible for help with day care payments.

Refer to the eligibility standards chart below to see whether you may be financially eligible. Some households are guaranteed help with child day care payments. If your total gross household income for the service unit size is under the 200 percent of Poverty Level, your household is a low-income household and financially eligible for low-income subsidy. If your gross household income from all sources falls between 200 percent poverty level and the Title XX maximum for the service unit size, you are a Title XX household and financially eligible for Title XX subsidy.

NY State Income Standards: Effective 06/1/09 - 05/31/10

Program Eligibility

The parent or caretaker relative must require child day care in order to pursue a necessary and approved plan of self support. The children for whom the subsidy is authorized must be in this country legally.

Guaranteed child day care eligibility

Day care subsidy is guaranteed to temporary assistance recipients who need day care in order to work at a job leading to self-sufficiency or to participate in Department of Social Services mandated employment related activities. The temporary assistance recipient does not contribute to the cost of the day care.

The day care subsidy is guaranteed for a year to households who cease being eligible for Temporary Assistance due to employment or due to increased income. The gross household income must be under the 200 percent Poverty Level for the service unit size. Parents must be unavailable to provide care due to employment in a job leading to self-sufficiency. The parent is required to pay a mandatory parent share toward the cost of the day care. Parent share is determined by the gross household income and service unit size.

Service unit size

The service unit size is defined as the parent or parents and their children under eighteen residing in the household. However, certain household situations exist where an 18, 19 or 20 year old may be included in the service unit.

How much will I have to contribute toward the cost of day care?

• Calculate your gross household income from all sources.
• Subtract the 100% poverty level income for the service unit size.
• Multiply the remainder by 0.10.
• Divide the last amount by 52. This is the parent share that you must pay each week to the day care provider for the youngest child receiving day care subsidy.

Child day care subsidy applications

Application packets may be requested by calling (914) 995-6521 or (914) 995-6522;  by visiting any DSS District Office; or  by mailing a request to:

Child Day Care Subsidies Program

Attention: New Applications

10 County Center Road, 2nd Floor

White Plains, New York 10607

Applications may also be faxed to (914) 813-4309.

Once your case is deemed eligible, refer to the staffing chart below to find your assigned worker:

What if I cannot find a day care provider for my children?

DSS has a contract with the Child Care Council of Westchester, Inc. for Enhanced Referral Services. The council will be happy to refer you to an appropriate provider. Call (914) 761-3456 extention 140 for this service.

Who is an eligible provider?

Temporary assistance recipients and low-income households may choose providers from approximately 166 licensed centers, 116 school age programs, 226 family day care providers and 180 licensed group family day care providers. Temporary assistance recipients and families eligible for low-income subsidies may also select a legally exempt provider who is not licensed or registered by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). This provider's enrollment form will be evaluated by the Child Care Council of Westchester and, if the provider meets the health and safety standards set by OCFS, will be enrolled by the Child Care Council as a legally exempt day care provider. 

Families eligible for Title XX subsidies are able to select only from providers who are licensed and who have a contract with the Department of Social Services or from registered school-age programs with DSS contracts (approximately 177 centers and school age programs. NY State regulations require that a title XX provider be registered or licensed by the State AND have a contract with the county.

Provider enrollment forms

Enrollment forms may be obtained at any DSS District Office or from the Child Day Care Subsidies program as mentioned above.