Anyone have state assistance with child care costs?

My DD and her fiance qualify for state assistance. They already get WIC, the kids are on the ArKIDS medical insurance (medicaid?), and their social worker told them that they qualify for day care vouchers. The day care they currently use does accept the vouchers, which is great so they won't have to change facilities. DD and her fiance love the day care, as do the boys.

My question is, how does the voucher system work? Is your benefit determined on a sliding scale according to your income? DD doesn't know how much benefit she will have. With no assistance, day care currently costs her well over $1100/month, something they absolutely cannot afford. They've been staying with this for day care for a couple of months because their social worker keeps telling them they'll be getting the vouchers "anyday." Yesterday she did say it would be before the end of the month. I'm just curious how this will work out for her, and if anyone knows how much she will probably have to pay once the voucher system is in place. She heard something like the state would pay 80% of her day care costs but she's not sure. That would be such a godsend while she gets on her feet and out from under the pile of bills that have come their way since the pregnancy and birth.

Does anyone know how long DD would be eligible for assistance? I'm not sure if she's asked that yet.

Thank you for any info you're willing to share. DD is in Arkansas (Fayetteville) and all states handle this differently I'm sure, but if you know some of the details of how this works I'd appreciate it. I'm so anxious to see her get some help, even though we don't condone "long term" government assistance, and we help her all we can ourselves but we have had to step back somewhat and let she and fiance' deal with this on their own. We can't keep holding their hands every step of the way.

And advice there as well would be appreciated.

Thanks for "listening" to my ramble!

 

She would pay CONSIDERABLY LESS. It's based on your income and she will have to prove income. For me, here in Florida, it would cost me 300 bucks a week to put the girls in daycare. (Who wants to work just to pay daycare??) If I were to go on the program and get on the waiting list, I would pay around 70 bucks a week. So it is a HUGE help. The only catch is, you have to be working first to get it. And there is a waiting list unless there is an emergency situation(such as crisis intervention, domestic violence situations). That is the catch 22 for me. I can't afford the 300 dollars a week until I come up on a list. So for now I stay at home and sell ebay and do different things for extra income. I also do consignment which helps alot.

You say that she is already going to receive vouchers. That is awesome. No waiting list. However, I don't see why she has to wait on them. I thought if the daycare knew she was accepted into the program they should start charging her that lower rate. I would ask the daycare instead of waiting.Oh, and she will continue to get the vouchers for as long as her situation doesn't change,(more income). It's going to help her life tremendously. I used it in the past for my eldest daughter and it really was a godsend.

 

I'm sure her social worker would be able to give that info? But you are right - it will go on a sliding scale - and she probably won't have to pay that much. I'm in California and there is a wonderful program here - EOC - they are paying ALL of my child care - and my sister is taking care of them - they pay her!! I am so blessed I am thankful everyday. I have to work obviously and once my child support kicks in - I will have to claim that as income and I will have a co-pay of $2.00 a day! Which I can handle!! out here the going rate for infant care is $700.00 a month per child!!!! When I went for my orientation with EOC, they gave me a paper that had income level vs. how much of a co-pay etc. I would have to pay. Maybe the social worker has something like that? I am on WIC too! I have to say that before I had my babes - I worked full time - made good money - never needed assistance etc. of course when I got pregnant I was self employed - no insurance - and all my savings went into my business - which I sold and ate everything when i found out I was pregnant - so I needed assistance as the girls Dad was also self employed and not that motivated. Now I'm a single Mom and it's amazing what is out there for me if I'm willing to look and do the foot work!!! Good Luck!

 

Hey. Im currently on Medi-cal for all my prenatal stuff. and they gave me a form for WIC I just never went! Ha....but what's EOC, I'm pretty up on low cost things out there and haven't heard of it.
Thx

 

Thanks for the replies, that gives me a bit more info.

DD has been back at her job full time since the end of May and she has been on the waiting list for childcare assistance since then. Their daycare costs $262/wk and she doesn't make much more than that, but she has continued working in order to keep her own insurance coverage in effect. So far they've been able to make the daycare payment but it's been at the expense of other payments and now they are behind in everything. It will be such a blessing when the state assistance is finalized and they can start getting some of their other debts reduced. It's been frustrating for them that their social worker has been telling them for several weeks that they should receive their vouchers "any time now."

In Arkansas, the childcare assistance used to be retroactive, ie: the state would reimburse your child care provider for childcare costs for the time period that you were on the waiting list, but that recently changed. DD's day care knows she has already been approved and is now on the waiting list to receive the benefit, but they can't give her the reduced rate if they are not going to be paid by the state. I can't blame them for that. I've been urging DD to find a less expensive childcare arrangement for the boys in the interim but she loves the day care center they attend now and wants them to stay there if at all possible. The center has a waiting list for their baby room so she probably couldn't get them back in quickly, if at all, if she pulls them out.

I'm just praying that the state assistance comes through this month, they are struggling so.

Thanks again for the help!

ETA ... vivalalexa, you really should check into WIC before the babies arrive, my DD gets all her formula free and vouchers for milk, dairy, cereal, etc. It has been a lifesaver. DD has to attend periodic "classes" in order to continue receiving WIC benefits but it's been well worth her time.

 

QUOTE(vivalalexa @ Oct 12 2007, 11:22 AM) [snapback]447442[/snapback]
Hey. Im currently on Medi-cal for all my prenatal stuff. and they gave me a form for WIC I just never went! Ha....but what's EOC, I'm pretty up on low cost things out there and haven't heard of it.
Thx

OH! You should get the WIC - trust me!!! If you qualify for medical - you will qualify!!!!!! It's awesome! I get 18 cans of formula a month - for nothing!!!!! plus 6 boxes of baby cereal and 2 huge bottle of juice. that's for the babies age now!! If you are bf - they will give you food for YOU - and cereal for the babes if they are of age. When I was pregnant, I got 2 doz eggs - cheese - 3 boxes of good cereal - peanut butter etc. You get "checks" to use in the store - it's not government issue or anything like that. the formula alone is worth it $14.00 per can - and my girls go through a can every 2 1/2 days- I'd be living in the street if it wasn't for WIC. EOC I can't remember what it stands for but it's a child care resource connection - I'm not sure if it's just here on the central coast or not either. Maybe google it and check it out. It's income qualify and they are awesome!! Maybe you have something similar down there? Maybe contact social services - if anything - they are a great way to find alot of local resources for child care etc. Here is EOC toll free #888-727-2272 - they may be able to direct you too!!! good luck!!

 

here in memphis, tn i get child care assistance and dont pay anything for my two oldest daughters and when my twins are born i wont have to pay

 

I used childcare assistance when I was in nursing school. Like others have said, it was on a sliding scale. I got my assistance when I was in Ohio. I also had to stipulate the days my kids would be there (give them my class schedule). I had to pay for those days every week (whether class was in session or not) AND I couldn't use the childcare for any additional days/times unless I paid out of pocket. But it did save us tons. I think I was paying $70 or 80 a month for 3 kids in full time childcare.

 

QUOTE(kim j @ Oct 12 2007, 11:28 AM) [snapback]447682[/snapback]
OH! You should get the WIC - trust me!!! If you qualify for medical - you will qualify!!!!!! It's awesome! I get 18 cans of formula a month - for nothing!!!!! plus 6 boxes of baby cereal and 2 huge bottle of juice. that's for the babies age now!! If you are bf - they will give you food for YOU - and cereal for the babes if they are of age. When I was pregnant, I got 2 doz eggs - cheese - 3 boxes of good cereal - peanut butter etc. You get "checks" to use in the store - it's not government issue or anything like that. the formula alone is worth it $14.00 per can - and my girls go through a can every 2 1/2 days- I'd be living in the street if it wasn't for WIC. EOC I can't remember what it stands for but it's a child care resource connection - I'm not sure if it's just here on the central coast or not either. Maybe google it and check it out. It's income qualify and they are awesome!! Maybe you have something similar down there? Maybe contact social services - if anything - they are a great way to find alot of local resources for child care etc. Here is EOC toll free #888-727-2272 - they may be able to direct you too!!! good luck!!



thank you
I don't qualify for Medi-cal myself, so I technically am not insured unless it is prenatal related. And I recently got a new job and am getting paid significantly more than I was before so I feel if I did go into these places now I wouldn't qualify. I will call my social worker (even though that changes every week!!!) and figure it out.
Thank you for all your help sweetheart!