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Paying for Child Care

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Need Help Paying For Child Care?

The Child Care Subsidy Program assists families in paying child care costs for children under age 13 who are not eligible to attend public school during the part of the day when public education is available, or children with special needs under age 18 who reside with the applicant. If you are eligible and are approved for services, the Subsidy Program can pay a portion of your child care costs directly to the child care provider.

Do you have a child age 0-5 who hasn't started kindergarten? You may be eligible for financial assistance under new, increased income guidelines! Click either of the following links to learn more!

What You Need to Know About Waitlists in Virginia's Child Care Subsidy Program

As of July 1, 2024, the Child Care Subsidy Program has introduced waitlists in many parts of Virginia. Below are key points about why waitlists are necessary and what Virginians need to know moving forward. 

Virginia is now required to establish waitlists for the Child Care Subsidy Program (CCSP).  

  • Starting July 1, 2024, state law requires waitlists for the CCSP when more families apply than there are available slots. The Virginia Department of Education and its partners, including local Departments of Social Services, are responsible for managing these waitlists. 
  • Virginia’s new fiscal year, Fiscal Year 2025, began on July 1, 2024. The state’s fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30. 

Child care slots for Fiscal Year 2025 are based on usage as of June 2024. 

  • The state budget sets the number of CCSP slots for the upcoming year based on how many were used by the end of the last year. 
  • The number of child care slots available in each city and county is based on how many slots were used at the end of the previous fiscal year (June 2024). 

Record-high enrollment and program improvements have been maintained. 

  • Virginia’s current budget supports nearly twice as many children in the CCSP compared to pre-COVID levels. 
  • This record number of slots was kept thanks to additional state funding, which replaced expiring federal COVID relief funds. Without this funding, many slots would have been cut. 
  • Important program improvements—including enhanced reimbursement rates for child care providers, simplified copayments for families, and expanded eligibility—have all been preserved in the current budget.  

New families can only be served as others leave the program.  

  • Virginia’s annual budget does not account for further growth in CCSP. The state budget does not provide for additional slots for new families, children, or new child care providers that may need to rely on CCSP.
  • New families or children will only be served at the rate of attrition (when existing families within the city/county leave the program).  
  • Any increase in demand for CCSP services must be reported through waitlists.  
  • New state law does allow for slots to be reallocated across different areas based on family needs, but this can only happen after November 1 (following the fall enrollment period) and only if funding allows. Waitlists will still be the main tool for managing demand. 

Local Departments of Social Services can help with waitlist questions.  

  • Families should contact their Local Department of Social Services (LDSS) in the county where they reside for information about available CCSP slots, their place on the waitlist, eligibility, and how to apply. 
  • There is no way to predict how quickly the waitlist will move, but LDSS can provide updates on a family’s status and the local situation. 
  • Contact information for local offices is available in this directory: directory of Local Departments of Social Services. 

Child care providers may also be impacted by these changes.  

  • Current CCSP child care providers (“vendors”) are essential for ensuring access to quality child care. Virginia continues to welcome new providers into the CCSP. The waitlist does not limit how many providers can participate.
  • Providers with questions about the waitlist or how to participate in the CCSP can contact VDOE at childcaresubsidy@doe.virginia.gov.  

Basic Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the Child Care Subsidy Program, you must:

  • Be a Virginia resident who is either:
    • Actively employed or engaged in a job search. Let your local department of social services know if you are searching for a job during your phone interview;
    • Participating in an education or training program;
    • Receiving child protective services (CPS);
    • Participating in an assigned activity for the Virginia Initiative for Education and Work (VIEW); or
    • Participating in a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training (SNAPET) plan of participation.
  • Provide documentation of child’s citizenship or legal residence in the United States.
  • Provide documentation of child’s immunization requirements as outlined by the State Board of Health.
  • Provide documentation of household income that does not exceed the limits of the locality in which you reside.

Families of a child experiencing homelessness that cannot provide the required documentation needed to determine eligibility at the time of application may be conditionally approved for services for a period not to exceed 90 days.

Application Process

There are two ways to apply for the Child Care Subsidy Program

Your application will be reviewed within 30 days. During that time, you may be required to participate in an interview and provide documentation of basic eligibility requirements.

If you are eligible, and approved for services, your local department will authorize child care with a participating child care provider of your choice, and a portion of your child care costs will be paid directly to your provider.

Finding Child Care

Parents have different provider options they may choose to best fit the needs of their family. All parents want to support their child’s health, happiness and development. High quality child care programs feature enriched experiences that are linked to greater achievement and success in school and in life.

The Search for Child Care web tool provides facility information and inspection reports for licensed and religiously exempt child care centers, licensed and voluntarily registered family day homes and certified pre-schools.

If you would like personal assistance in finding child care, contact Child Care Aware of Virginia at 866-543-7852.