If you receive TANF, you can get help from the county assistance office to pay for child care while you work or go to school. Child care assistance is considered a special allowance. Make sure you put child care in your Agreement of Mutual Responsibility (AMR). For more information on teens and public benefits see the fact sheet on Young Parents and Welfare Benefits.
If you are receiving food stamps and are meeting the requirements of the Employment and Training Program, you may be eligible for help paying for child care while you are going to school or working. This assistance would also be called a special allowance. The child care special allowance must be written on your Employment Development Plan.
If you do not receive cash assistance or food stamps, and are low income, you may be eligible for a child care subsidy.
You may be eligible for a child care subsidy if you:
To meet the work and education requirement you must:
Sometimes there are waiting lists for child care once you are found eligible for the subsidy so you should apply as soon as you can if you need child care.
You can call 1-888-461-5437 if to begin your application for a child care subsidy.
If you are in DHS care, DHS helps you get and pay for child care so you can go to school, work, and receive any independent living skills training you need. DHS may require that the agency you are placed with help you get child care. If you are eligible for a child care subsidy or other child care assistance, DHS and your placement agency will help you apply. If you are having trouble getting child care talk with your child advocate attorney and your DHS and agency worker.
No matter how you are getting help paying for child care, the Child Care Information Services (CCIS) of Philadelphia can help you find a child care provider near where you live, work, or go to school. Call CCIS at 1-888-462-5437 to get help finding a child care provider.
Last updated: Summer 2007
