Affordable Child Care
Getting help paying for quality child care can depend on your income level and employment status.
Child Care Works - If you are concerned about the cost of quality child care, Child Care Works may be able to help. Working parents may be eligible for assistance for child care expenses if they meet the income guidelines. To apply for benefits, call 1-877-4-PA-KIDS (1-877-472-5437) or online through COMPASS.
Child Care Information Services Even if you don’t qualify for state benefits, there are experts who can help. Child Care Information Services is your local source for finding, selecting, and paying for child care:
- Child Care Information Services of Bucks County
- Child Care Information Services of Chester County
- Child Care Information Services of Delaware County
- Child Care Information Services of Montgomery County
- Child Care Information Services of Philadelphia
Tax Credits You may be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). EITC is a tax credit for low-income working families. Depending on your income, you may also be eligible for the Child Tax Credit and Child and Dependent Care Credit. These credits let you deduct the cost of your child care from your Federal, State, or local income taxes if you have a qualifying child. You can call the Internal Revenue Service at 800-829-1040 or visit their website for more information.
- National Women’s Law Center - More information for tax credits from the National Women’s Law Center.
More Great Resources Child Care Information for Families - The National Child Care Information Center has put together this resource guide to help parents find safe and affordable child care.
Child Care Budgeting Tool - A monthly budget can help you determine how much money you have to pay for child care.
5 Steps to Healthy Child Care Budgeting - Great Tips from Child Care Aware.
Snapshots from the Kitchen Table - Kaiser Family Foundation - Snapshots from the Kitchen Table, which tells a common story through the voices of 27 working Americans in six different cities: Family budgets are tight, health care costs are a major concern, and the economic downturn has made things a whole lot worse.
