How To Get Free Childcare Vouchers For Two Years Old – Are you a working parent or student juggling the demands of your job, studies and childcare responsibilities? If so then you will be pleased to learn about the wide array of free childcare vouchers for two-year-old children along with tons of government assistance programs that are in place to support you in times of need. There is no doubt paying for quality childcare can be a financial burden for a lot of families in America.
The cost of childcare is one of the biggest parts of a household budget. Therefore it is important to know the available resources that can help you to manage childcare costs. From federal and state-sponsored child care assistance programs to tax breaks and employer-sponsored benefits, there are plenty of options that are geared towards low-income families to lighten their financial burden. In this comprehensive blog we will help you to explore the different avenues so that you can obtain subsidies or free childcare vouchers for your child.
Highlights of this Post
Key Takeaways
- Free childcare vouchers and financial assistance programs exist for low-income families.
- Explore government programs, employer benefits, tax breaks, and affordable childcare options.
- Consider in-home daycare, help from family, sliding fee scales, co-op daycares, and community programs.
How Much Does Childcare Costs In the United States Of America?
Raising a child is never an inexpensive affair since the cost of childcare is constantly increasing with each passing day and according to statistics, the cost has increased by nearly 20% since 2016.
According to reports, the average cost of one year of daycare in 2020 was in the range between $8310 to $17171 and this figure is expected to rise in 2024 and 2025. In a few areas of America like Washington DC households are spending an average of $25 annually for daycare costs as per Lending Trees’ latest statistics.
A common childcare option for most families is to hire a full-time nanny but this comes with a significant cost. Employing a full-time nanny will cost you somewhere $15.76 an hour considering the national average cost in 2024. Therefore the average cost will come down to $30 to $800 annually for 40 hours per week.
Read our next guide on food vouchers for disabled if you are living with a disability or with a disabled member in your family.
What Are The Eligibility Criteria To Qualify For Childcare Vouchers For Two Years Old?
Low-income families can get assistance to pay for childcare. The federal, state and local organizations are providing childcare vouchers, cash assistance, scholarships and many more. The eligibility criteria may vary from one state to another state. You must check with the Department of Health and Human Services to learn about your state’s requirements. Let’s take a look at the common eligibility criteria that low-income families must fulfill:
- Be a citizen of the United States or a permanent resident of the state from which they are applying
- Your family is receiving public assistance like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Supplemental Security Income or Temporary Assistance For Needy Families Program
- Your family is experiencing homelessness
- Your children are in foster care.
Following is the list of documents that you have to submit to receive childcare vouchers for your two-year-old child:
- Income verification documents like employment information, tax returns, pay stubs, W2 forms, bank statements etc.
- Proof of financial hardship that you are going through for which it is making it difficult for you to make regular child support for instance utility cutoff, housing crisis, disability, eviction, medical condition, termination etc.
- Citizenship and immigration documents
- Proof of childcare expenses for instance copies of bank statements showing electronic transfers to daycare or childcare provider, copies of cash checks or money orders that were written and cashed by the daycare or childcare provider
- Parents who are attending school or college must show documents from their educational institution verifying their full-time student status.
- Proof of benefits that you are receiving from the federal government such as SSI, SNAP, Medicaid, Administration for Children Services or the Department of Social Services.
- Personal identification documents such as passport, driver’s license, original birth certificate etc.
Also read our next guide to know the available food vouchers for children belonging to low-income households.
Financial Assistance Programs To Reduce The Cost Of Childcare
Fortunately, there are tons of financial assistance programs in place, however the availability and the benefits of these programs may vary from one state to another and your employer. In the below section of the guide, we will mention a list of a few programs that will lower the cost of childcare expenses.
Government Programs
The Early Head Start Program is a federal initiative that is designed for children from birth to three years of age. If you’re looking for childcare vouchers for two-year-olds this will lower your cost of childcare.
The Head Start program on the other hand is designed for children who are in age between three to five years old so that they can acquire high-quality early childhood education as well as development services.
The programs are geared towards young children from low-income families in America. The program provides comprehensive services such as health services, home visits, parent education, nutrition counseling and services for pregnant women.
The Child Care and Development Program enables low-income parents to cover their childcare expenses while they are attending school or employed somewhere. The grant assists working parents by providing support with childcare expenses.
The program helps in covering significant costs of childcare like in-home care, daycare centers and after-school programs. The eligibility criteria may vary depending on your state however parents must meet the income guidelines to qualify for assistance and get help with childcare costs.
Low-income student parents who are pursuing higher education can apply for childcare access, which means parents in school can get financial support and reduce their childcare expenses.
These initiatives enable parents to balance their parenting responsibilities and academic careers and make sure their child receives high-quality services while they are furthering their education.
Many states provide fully funded pre-K or pre-kindergarten programs to kids less than five years of age. These programs are generally half-day however they may be offered as full-day options as well.
Depending on your state of residence you are required to meet certain eligibility criteria to qualify for the program. A few states have made the option available to all families who are permanent residents of the state. You must contact your state childcare agency and explore the available options to reduce the overall cost of childcare services.
The Temporary Assistance For Needy Families Program offers financial support to low-income households. Parents eligible for this program can use the time-limited cash funds towards childcare costs and make sure their kids are well cared for while they’re attending school or working. This is a valuable resource for parents who need support.
There are even food vouchers for the homeless that you can apply if you are currently homeless or at-risk of being homeless.
Local And Provider-Specific Assistance And Discounts
Military Assistance Programs
Department of Defense and military families can receive childcare vouchers for the two-year-old child through Child Care Aware of America. The organization provides free assistance as well as respite child care programs for veterans and active military members.
Local Assistance And Scholarship
You can also keep an eye out for local nonprofits that offer childcare scholarships in your local area based on need, for instance 10000 Degrees in Marin County in California and The Scott County Kids Early Childhood Child Care Scholarship that is managed by Friendly House in Iowa.
Sibling Discount
A few childcare programs provide discounts to parents who enroll siblings. They take a percentage or a particular dollar amount of a child’s monthly or weekly fees. They can also waive registration fees or other fees. If you have more than one child to take care of then you can ask for sibling discounts from your provider.
Tax Credits And Support
- IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance: The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance provides free tax help to low-income taxpayers.
- Child And Dependent Care Credit: This tax credit is available to employees who have to pay for the childcare expenses for their kids who are below 13 years of age so that they can look for work or continue to work. By using this credit you can itemize up to $3000 for childcare expenses per child and maximum credit up to $6000.
- Earned Income Tax Credit: Earned Income Tax Credits help low or moderate-income families and workers get a tax break. If you qualify for this credit then you can use the benefit to reduce your tax and increase your refund. To learn more details you can visit the Internal Revenue Service web page and enhance your knowledge about tax credits.
Read our next guide on how to get food vouchers for veterans and military members.
Native Hawaiian, American Indian And Native Alaskan Programs
Tribal Child Care Financial Assistance
A lot of tribal tribal organizations get childcare grants from the federal U.S. government to help tribal families receive adequate child care financial support. There are more than 150 Head Start as well as early Head Start programs that are serving Alaska Native and American Indian children. To find these programs you can use the Head Start Center locator.
Child Care Assistance For Indigenous People Of Hawaii And Other Pacific Island Childcare And Preschool Programs
Thankfully there are programs in Hawaii that help with the cost of preschool and childcare for children of Indigenous people of Hawaii or other Pacific islands. Families must contact PATCH– the local childcare resource and referral agency, to learn more details on this.
The Tribal Childcare and Development Fund
Besides federal and state there are Tribal Child Care Assistance Programs in place for those living in tribal lands. For instance, the Tribal Childcare and Development Program uses federal funds to support poor tribal families and individuals receiving temporary public assistance or support. The assistance or services enable working parents to continue their job, participate in educational activities or attend training.
Work And School-Related Programs
Employer Sponsored Dependant Care Flexible Spending Account
A lot of employers enable employees to put a part of each paycheck into a special fund known as a Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account or FSA to pay for their childcare services while they are working.
The fund they contribute to dependent care FCC is not subjected to payroll tax so you end up paying less in tax and take more of your paycheck home. However, the fund can be used for dependent care or childcare expenses only. You must contact your Human Resource Department to see if your employer provides this program.
Additional Employer Resources
A few companies provide childcare on-site so that their employees can take care of their children. Apart from this a lot of childcare initiatives may be offered at a discounted rate for employees of certain companies. You need to figure out if your employer has a relationship with childcare programs that can help you enjoy employee discounts.
College/ University Childcare
A lot of colleges and universities are providing childcare on campus. These initiatives provide special discounts to faculty, students and staff. If you are taking care of your two-year-old child while being enrolled in a college or university then check whether they have any school-related programs in place for you.
For instance, Childcare Scholarship Programs formerly known as Childcare Subsidies enable Maryland families to cover high-quality childcare and early education programs. The criteria of the program require you to have a child who is less than 13 years of age or an individual aged between 13 to 19 and living with a qualifying disability.
Nutrition Support Programs For Two Years Old Children
Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC)
The Women, Infants and Children Program is a federal initiative that assists low-income expectant women, new moms and young children from birth through age 5 to eat nutritious meals and stay healthy. The WIC program provides vouchers to eligible applicants so that they can use them in approved grocery stores or retail outlets.
The program also offers information on breastfeeding support, eating healthy and healthcare reference. If you’re looking for free food vouchers for low-income families and can meet the eligibility criteria of WIC then you must contact your local WIC agency today.
National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
The National School Lunch Program is one of the free voucher or meal programs in America that offers food support to 100,000 educational institutions, after-school programs and childcare facilities every year. They offer discounted or free meals to those who qualify.
To obtain free meals for your child you need to ensure your gross family income is below 130% of the federal poverty guidelines.
The program offers free or low-cost school lunches daily in public or nonprofit private schools and other learning facilities. Eligible children should be 18 years old or younger and be enrolled in K-12 school.
School Breakfast Program (SBP)
The School Breakfast Program offers free or low-cost breakfast to children in schools as well as residential childcare facilities. If your child is eligible for the National School Lunch Program or any other federal food assistance programs like SNAP then they can get free breakfast through this program.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides food assistance to qualified low-income families and individuals throughout the country.
You can reduce your childcare expenses by applying to SNAP benefits and enrolling your child into it. If you can meet the eligibility criteria of the program then you must contact your local SNAP office. There are tons of places where you can use your SNAP or EBT benefits.
Additional Affordable Childcare Options
While nannies and childcare centers have been well traditionally nannies and daycare centers are popular childcare options throughout the United States of America they may not be cost-effective for low-income families who are on a tight budget. In the below section of the guide, we have mentioned a few childcare options that will provide high-quality care to your child and will generally cost less.
In-Home Daycare
A less expensive alternative to center-based daycare on nannies that comes with similar benefits like structured schedules, an opportunity to socialize with other children and having a piece of mind that a licensed service provider is taking care of your two-year-old child is an in-home daycare option.
The only difference between center-based daycare and in-home daycare is that the latter is operated out of a private home with small spaces and only a few children, usually 10 to 12 young infants.
Help From Friends And Families
If you’re fortunate to have a friend or family member nearby who is willing to help you then that’ll be an affordable option.
Having someone reliable who can take care of your child can provide peace of mind, so do not hesitate to reach out to your close ones if you want your child to be in safe custody while you are out for work or other commitments.
Sliding Fee Scale
You can seek assistance from your childcare provider or daycare center if they are willing to help you based on your income situation or financial need.
Service providers may choose to scale the tuition based on their finances. Sliding the fee scale will help in subsidizing the cost of daycare and bringing parents peace of mind to support the household while their child is under the supervision and care of responsible adults.
Co-Op Daycare/ Parent Participation Nursery School
Co-Op Daycare which is also known as Parent-Participation Nursery School is a less expensive option and a better alternative to nannies and daycare centers. These preschools and daycares keep their tuition cost lower since they depend heavily on volunteer help from the parents.
Based on the co-op’s individual structure, parents generally rotate working alongside the certified teachers in daycare centers in half-day shifts and take turns caring for each other’s children. Parents in co-op daycare or preschool share the responsibility and the overall cost of running the daycare and some parents even act as members of the board of directors.
Low Cost/ Free Community Programs
There are low-cost or free programs provided by various local community centers, recreation departments or libraries depending on your child’s needs and age.
Similarly, religious organizations and churches also provide low-cost childcare services. Depending on your faith-based organization or church you may get help with daycare, school care, preschool and even summer camps.
Read our next guide on how to get food vouchers for veterans and military members.
Conclusion
Parents can benefit from free subsidies and childcare vouchers for their two-year-old child to ease their financial burden. Federal programs like the Child Care and Development Fund, Tribal Child Care Fund, state assistance program, employer-sponsored benefits, school subsidies and tax breaks provide valuable support for parents these days. Free childcare vouchers for two years along with the financial assistance program listed above will help you manage childcare expenses easily. It is important to find the best fit for your household by understanding the available options and their eligibility criteria. Even if vouchers are unavailable in your state you can explore the free childcare hours, tax credits and tax-free childcare.
You can read more about government assistance programs at our Get Government Grants’ section today. Our resources will help you to find the right type of support based on your needs and requirements.