Day Care Services

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 4/1/08 the parent/guardian's mandatory Child Day Care payment was 15% of his/her gross income over the poverty level for the household size. The child day care subsidy customer's current mandatory payment is only 10% of gross household income over the poverty level.

For example, prior to 4/1/08 a family of three (one adult and two children under age thirteen) with a yearly income of $32,000 was responsible for paying $265.00 per month. Currently, the same household would only be responsible for a payment of $120.00 per month in order to receive the needed day care services for all children under thirteen. For further information, please call 995-2642 to speak with the application supervisor. The office is located on the mezzanine at 143 Grand Street in White Plains. Forms can be requested by calling 995-5477, 995-6521 and 995-6522.

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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. Please 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.

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 subsidy is authorized must be in this country legally.

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.

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% 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.

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

If your total gross household income for the service unit size is under the 200% 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% 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. Please refer to the eligibility standards chart below.

Applications may be obtained at any DSS District Office and also from the Child Day Care Subsidies program office located on the mezzanine at 143 Grand Street in White Plains. Application packets may also be requested by calling 995-5477, 995-6521 and 995-6522.

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. You should call 761-3456 x140 for this service.

Temporary Assistance recipients and Low-Income households may choose providers from approximately 166 licensed centers, 116 school age programs, 226 registered 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, group family day care providers 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.

Enrollment forms may be obtained at any DSS District Office and also from the Child Day Care Subsidies program office located on the mezzanine at 143 Grand Street in White Plains. Forms can be requested by calling 995-5477, 995-6521 and 995-6522.