More Food Stamps for Families with Child Care Expenses

If you pay for child care or for care of a disabled adult, you may be able to get more food stamps!

Do you pay for child care? Do you pay someone to care for a disabled adult in your household?

If you do, tell your DTA worker!

You can count these expenses as "deductions" from your income for Food Stamps. This means that you can get more Food Stamps.

Do I have to be working to count these expenses?

You can count the money you pay for child care, or for someone to care for a disabled adult, while you are doing any of the following things:

• working, or  looking for a job (including travel time);
• going to classes that prepare you to get a job; or
• doing volunteer work or another activity required by the Food Stamp Employment/Training Program.

What kinds of expenses count?

For children the following expenses count:

Child care	Everything you pay for child care, that isn't paid back to you, including co-payments;
Before- and after-school activities	The cost of an adult-supervised activity before and after school, and during school vacations;
Public Transportation Costs	If you or your child takes a bus, subway or train to or from the care provider, or activity;
Mileage (.48/mile)	If you drive your child to or from the care provider, or activity.

How much can I count?

You can count up to $200/month for each child under 2 and up to  $175/month for each child over 2.

If your child is disabled or if you are paying for care of a disabled adult, you can count all of your child care expenses, even if they are over these limits. 

How much will my Food Stamps go up?

Every $3 you spend on childcare may increase your Food Stamps by $1 – up to the maximum food stamp amount.

Example:

A mother earns $1800/month. She pays $300/month in childcare for her two children ($150 each). If DTA doesn't know about her childcare expenses, she gets $141/month in Food Stamps. With this deduction, her Food Stamps go up to $231/month.

Make sure to tell your DTA worker about your child care expenses!

Child Care Statement