Financial Support

Sullivan County’s working families deserve safe, high quality and affordable early care and education (more commonly known as child care) for their children, but quality child care is expensive. Financial resources and benefits are available to help families manage the cost of child care:

Department of Social Services Financial Aid:

Working parents with incomes at or below certain guidelines may qualify for financial aid with their local county Department of Social Services. To find out if you may be eligible for help in paying for child care, please contact your local Department of Social Services or the Sullivan County Child Care Council, Inc.

Child Care Assistance Eligibility and Information here

Online Child Care Assistance Program application available here.

Additional Documents needed for Child Care Assistance Program application available here.

Financial Assistance

Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit:

If you paid someone to care for a child or a dependent so you could work, you may be able to reduce your tax by claiming the credit on your tax return. This credit is available to people who, in order to work or to look for work, have to pay for child care services for dependents under age 13. The credit is also available if you paid for care of a spouse or a dependent of any age who is physically or mentally incapable of self-care. The credit is a percentage, based on your adjusted gross income, of the amount of work-related child and dependent care expenses you paid to a care provider. The credit can range from 20 to 35 percent of your qualifying expenses, depending upon your income. For more information, visit www.irs.gov.

Earned Income Tax Credit:

The Federal and State Earned Income Tax Credits are refundable tax benefits for working people with low or moderate incomes. They have several important purposes: to reduce the tax burden on these workers, to supplement wages, and to make work more attractive than welfare. Workers who qualify for the EITC and file Federal and State tax returns can get back some or all of the income tax that was withheld during the year. They may also get extra cash back from the IRS and from New York State if their EITC is higher than the taxes they owe. For more information, visit the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance website, call the IRS toll free at 1-800-829-1040 or call New York Sate Taxpayer Information at 1-800-225-5829.

Employer Programs:

Additional help with child care costs may be available through your employer. Inquire in your human resources or finance office to find out if any benefits may be available.

Additional Programs:

Additional assistance may be available to families in the form of sliding fees based on income standards set by a particular child care program, scholarships, multi-child discounts, and if a program is willing to negotiate fees on an individual basis. Parents are encouraged to inquire about these services at their current child care program, or call the Council at (845) 292-7166 for referrals to programs that may offer these supports.

Other Opportunities for Financial Assistance

Additional health and human services programs are available such as food stamps, temporary assistance, HEAP, and WIC. Visit myBenefits.ny.gov to learn more about the many programs available, to prescreen for the programs to see what you may be eligible for and, to apply on-line for the Food Stamp Program.

Average Cost of Child Care in Sullivan County

• Family and Group Family Day care: $245 per week; $1,062/month; $12,740/year
• Daycare Centers: $275/week; $1,192/month; $14,300/year