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Subsidy Guide

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Message TUITIONASSISTANCEGUIDEThink you don’t qualify- think again!New York State allocates a portion of its tax revenue to fund theChild Care Assistance Program (CCAP).These funds provide direct subsidies to childcare providers onbehalf of eligible families. This ensures that more families canaccess affordable, high-quality childcare.your incomeWHAT IS THECHILDCARE ASSISTANCEPROGRAM?now with expandedincome levels!WHY APPLY?Higher-income limits mean more familiesqualify.No out-of-pocket tuition while yourapplication is being processed.Quality childcare for your child, peace ofmind for you.NO OUT-OF-POCKETTUITION WHILE YOU ARE INTHE PROCESS OF APPLYING!Healthy Kids offers up to 4 free weeks of childcarewhile you are in the process of applying for tuitionassistance through the CCAP program The program is designed to make high-quality EarlyLearning, Before/After School, and Summer Camp Programsaccessible for families like yours. A family of four making $108,000 & under qualifies.Check out the income levels below to see if you might too!

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FAMILY SIZEMAX YEARLYINCOME TOQUALIFYFAMILY OF 2$73,869.56FAMILY OF 3$91,250.63FAMILY OF 4$108,631.70FAMILY OF 5$126,012.77FAMILY OF 6$143,393.84AM ITo be eligible, children must be under 13years old eligible?Eligibility is generallybased on a few factors1.2.3.Your child’s ageAn activity requirementYour household incomeParents must be WorkingLooking for workIn a training programParticipating in an education program (highschool, college, or vocational)Families may also be eligible if theyare living in temporary housing(priority access), attend services fordomestic violence, or receivetreatment for substance abuse.What if you don’t appear to qualify?Eligibility for the New York Childcare Assistance Program depends on alot of different factors and your family may still qualify. We encourageall families to reach out to their local Department of Social Servicesoffice to determine eligibility.When in doubt- reach out!If your income is over the below limits, check out theWorkforce Development Institute Scholarship which offershigher income levels to qualify! Learn more athttps://wdiny.org/Explore-Our-Work/Child-Care-Subsidy-Program

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(paystubs or other documentation to proveemployment and income) (include proof of citizenship for each child)Accepted document types include: PDF,DOC/DOCX, jpeg, png.Note that not all documents are required.Certain documents may fulfill more thanone requirement.DO I NEEDTO APPLY?DO IAPPLY?What HowIdentification foreveryone in the householdIncome verificationProof of residenceWork or school scheduleMany districts allow you to apply for the ChildCare Assistance Program online. Please contactyour LDSS to ensure online applications areaccepted. You can find a list of LDSS officesbelow.ONLINE:BY MAIL/IN PERSON: To apply online, please visithttps://ocfs.ny.gov/programs/childcare/ccap/help.php to access the Childcare Assistance ApplicationPortal Contact your LDSSto apply for services using a paper application.If you receive Temporary Assistance or are applying forChild Care in Lieu of Temporary Assistance, TransitionalChild Care, or other services such as Public Assistance,SNAP, etc. you must complete the New York StateApplication for Certain Benefits and Services (LDSS-2921). If you are a foster parent seeking child care assistance fora foster child, or have a protective or preventive servicescase, please reach out to your LDSS case worker tocoordinate services.

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frequentlyASKEDQUESTIONS1.HOW LONG DOES IT TAKEFROM THE TIME I APPLY TOFIND OUT IF I AM ELIGIBLE?In New York, the processing time for anapplication depends on the county youapply in, but generally, if yourapplication is missing information ordocuments, it may take longer sinceDSS will request the missing itemsbefore making a decision. Onceapproved, assistance can start fromthe date of application, so it'simportant to apply as soon as you needcare. If you haven’t heard back after 30days, you can contact your local DSSoffice to check the status.WHAT IF I AM DENIEDELIGIBILTY?If you are denied eligibility, you have afew options. First, carefully review thedenial notice, which will explain thereason for ineligibility—commonreasons include income exceedinglimits, missing documentation, or notmeeting work/school requirements. Ifyou believe the denial was incorrect,you have the right to request a FairHearing (appeal) within 60 days ofreceiving the notice. This allows you tochallenge the decision and present anynecessary evidence. Additionally, ifyour situation changes, you may beable to reapply. For example, if youwere denied due to missing paperwork,you can submit a new application withthe required documents, or if yourincome or work status changes, youmay become eligible later.4.WILL I HAVE TO PAY SOMECOSTS TOO?Yes, if you are approved for New YorkState Child Care Assistance Program(CCAP), you may have a weekly ParentShare (Family Copayment) that will bepaid directly to Healthy Kids. Theamount is based on household incomeand family size. The copay is capped at1% of your income above the FederalPoverty Level (FPL) for most families.5WHAT HAPPENS IF MY CHILD ISABSENT?If your child is absent, the program willstill cover a limited number ofabsences, but the exact number variesby county. If your child exceeds theallowed absences, you will beresponsible for paying out-of-pocketfor those missed days. Extended orunreported absences could also lead toa review of your eligibility and possiblediscontinuation of assistance.3.2.HOW DO I KNOW HOW MANYHOURS MY CHILD IS APPROVEDFOR?Check Your Approval Notice – Whenyour CCAP application is approved, youwill receive a notice of decision fromyour local Department of SocialServices (DSS). This notice will specifythe number of approved hours.6.Your approval is typically valid for 12months before requiring recertification.During this period, you must report anysignificant changes in income,employment, or householdcircumstances to your caseworker, asthese may impact your eligibility. Youwill also need to communicate to yourcaseworker any additional programsyou are registering your child for asthey may need separate approval(such as summer camp or schools out).HOW LONG IS MY APPROVALGOOD FOR?Still have questions?Our Subsidy Team is happy to help! Our team can try to help with any additionalquestions you may have or point you in the direction of your local DSS office.845-330-0200 subsidy@healthykidsprograms.com