Childcare Voucher Program

Overview of the Program

• The Childcare Assistance Program is funded by the Services and Activities Fee paid by all students.

• Rates listed on this page are for students enrolled in full-time credits (10=graduate, 12=undergraduate). Please see the page called Part-Time Assistance Allocations for part-time rates.

• Up to predetermined limits, awarded students receive a portion of their childcare costs from the Childcare Assistance Program. For children from birth through 6 years of age, students can receive 60 percent of their costs. Parents of children 7 to 12 years old, can receive 35 percent of their costs. The remainder of child care expenses are covered by personal resources. In some cases Financial Aid may be available to help with the expenses not covered by this program.

• The amount of assistance is based upon predetermined monthly limits established by the child's age. The program will pay the maximum allocation or the prescribed percentage of monthly expenses, whichever is less, according to the schedule below:

Infants (1-12 months)	60% of monthly cost or $582 maximum (monthly cost of $970 or above)
Toddlers (13-36 months)	60% of monthly cost or $550 maximum (monthly cost of $917 or above)
Preschoolers (37 months - 6 years)	60% of monthly cost or $473 maximum (monthly cost of $788 or above)
School-Age (7-12 years)	35% of monthly cost or $217 maximum (monthly cost of $620 or above)

 

The childcare program does not pay for registration, meals, field trips, diapers, fines, or any other type of charges beyond the basic fee.

• The childcare quarters are three full calendar months at a time; the dates do not correspond exactly with the academic calendar. For example, assistance is paid through to the last day of the month, regardless of the quarter end date. The Services and Activities portion of childcare assistance is distributed to students at the beginning of each three month period, provided the student completes all forms properly and on time.

• Childcare assistance is limited to lower income students. Therefore, families must fall within prescribed income and resource limits in order to be eligible. For 2005-2006, these income limits are:

Family Size	Max Income/Resources
2	$39,600
3	$49,800
4	$60,000
5	$70,200
6	$80,400

If your adjusted family income and resources (salaries, tuition waivers, etc. minus $3,320 per child) is above the amounts listed above, you will be ineligible to receive assistance through this program.

• Student-parents are ranked for childcare assistance on the basis of income and resources, as determined by the Office of Student Financial Aid. If your financial resources change during the year, your eligibility to continue receiving assistance will be reviewed and may be cancelled.

• Student-parents must be the legal and physical custodial parent of the children, and must use DSHS licensed or certified care providers not related by blood or marriage.

• Before and after school programs and summer day camps directly sponsored by the Seattle Public School System or the Seattle Parks Department do not need to be DSHS licensed for 5-12 year old children in order to qualify for assistance.

• Childcare assistance MUST be applied for on an annual basis, even for current participants. To apply, student-parents must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the processor by the Financial Aid priority filing date (usually near the end of February) and a Childcare Request Application to the Childcare Assistance Program for Students Office by deadline of May 31, 2007. Copies of these forms are available in Room 482 Schmitz Hall and can be downloaded from this website.

• The Childcare Assistance Program will notify students regarding their priority for assistance in the summer prior to the award year.

Additional information on the childcare assistance system can be obtained in the Childcare Assistance Program for Students Office in Room 482 of Schmitz Hall or by calling (206) 543-1041.