The NYS Essential Worker Scholarship fund covers childcare costs for essential workers. At first, $25 million was allocated for the program. Then, on August 31, 2021 Governor Hochul allocated an additional $61.4 million in funds.
…Due to the enthusiastic response of applications submitted through our portal, we’ve reached our funding ceiling and will no longer be able to accept new applications. OCFS is grateful for the response to this initiative and is pleased to be providing scholarships to almost 36,000 children over a 12-week period. Thank you, Essential Workers, for your service to our state!
Applications are now closed. If you already applied, check your account here to see if you got your 12 weeks of childrcare covered.
The term “essential worker” is very broad and includes childcare, education (including teachers, therapists, and anyone else who works in a school), retail workers, medical, construction, and many more fields. Check to see if your work is considered “essential”.
Table of Contents
- Scholarship Amount
- Eligibility
- Childcare Providers
- How to Apply
- Getting the Funds
- Notes & Questions
- More Information
Scholarship Amount
The scholarship covers the full childcare costs of each eligible child, up to the weekly “market rate”. It will be paid week by week until the fund runs out. We don’t know when the funds will run out.
Eligibility
At least one adult in the household (either the applicant or co-applicant) must meet all of the following to be eligible.
- New York State resident
- “Essential worker”
As mentioned above, the list is very broad - The applicant must currently be working as an essential worker
Working part-time should be enough - Required to work outside the home
The job is not able to be done from home (remotely) - Have a child over 6 weeks old and under 13 years old, or 13-18 if incapable of caring for self
- No other legally responsible adult (over 21) in the household is available for childcare
Our understanding is that one adult needs to be an essential worker who is required to work outside the home. There is no such requirement for any other adult in the household – the only requirement is that the spouse, or another adult, is not available for childcare. - Household income up to 300% poverty level
Unemployment counts as income, but the bonus $300 FPUC likely does not count as income. Anyone over 21 who is not responsible for childcare is not counted as part of the household.
Here is the maximum income based on household size:- 2 – $52,260
- 3 – $65,880
- 4 – $79,500
- 5 – $93,120
- 6 – $106,740
- 7 – $120,360
- 8 – $133,980
- 9 – $147,600
- 10 – $161,220
- 11 – $174,840
- 12 – $188,460
- 13 – $202,080
- 14 – $215,700
- Assets. Total family assets cannot exceed $1,000,000.
Assets include, but are not limited to, cash, bank accounts, real estate, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, IRAs, retirement accounts, 401(k) accounts, 529 accounts, life insurance, trust accounts, trust income, annuities, burial funds/spaces. Our understanding is that “real estate” most likely does not include a primary home (though not explicitly stated).
Childcare Providers
“Childcare providers” can include schools, camps, daycares and potentially even private babysitters. So, for example, the funds can also be used to cover daycamp costs this summer. It is unclear if private school tuition will be covered – even if it doesn’t, it should cover early/after care (when public schools are closed).
The provider needs to be considered “registered”, or “legally exempt”. You can search to see if your childcare provider is listed.
If you are not sure if your provider is eligible (or if you cannot find your provider), you can always apply just in case. Just enter your provider’s information in the online application.
How to Apply
The program is no longer accepting new applications.
You need a NY.gov account in order to apply. If you don’t have one yet, register for one before applying.
See this helpful video walk-through on how to complete your application.
Getting the Funds
The funds will be sent weekly directly to the childcare provider, as long as there are funds available.
Notes & Questions
This section will be updated as details are clarified.
- Overnight camp vs day camp. The federal dependent care credit excludes overnight camp, but we have not seen clear guiance if this program also excludes overnight camp.
- School tuition. Although the federal dependent care credit excludes school tuition, this scholarship doesn’t explicitly exclude school tuition. Even if the scholarship won’t cover school tuition, it should most definitely cover early care and after care (out of regular public school hours).
- Private Babysitter. Unclear if a babysitter is considered an eligible childcare provider – most likely only if the babysitter is registered with OCFS.