Affordable infant care?

Commenting to see if you get any responses! I definitely need something too 😅

It really depends on what type of care you are looking for but reality is infant care is expensive due to the limitations , capacities and ratios center are able to have . You should check if you qualify ( which you should , even if you have to pay for a copay) at nyc.gov/childcare and check for HRA voucher ( if you dont work ) or ACS voucher ( if you work) . The process can be tiresome but if definitely worth checking for . If that doesnt work out because its expensive still , I will look into your actual need ( calculate how many hours ) and if you can accommodate or reduce your schedule and try and get a private sitter or find drop in care childcare and only pay for the time you need . Childcare in ny is expensive and many policies are being proposed to provide free childcare for all parents but we are still not there. Best of luck

Are you married? What’s your income? The limit for getting help for child care is actually VERY high. I’m you aren’t married then since it’s just you or your child it’s like 72K as the cap and you can get almost 100% covered even at the 72K mark. So I would go look. Even still they could give you some off so you aren’t paying the full amount

@Wendi how??

@Mariela incredibly helpful, I will look into this! Thank you.

@Wendi can you give more details? I was given an ACS voucher but they aren’t paying even half. I’m a single mom, I can’t afford anything for childcare after bills and taking care of baby. I make about 72K and was approved for $250- $400 a week, depending on the place, and I have a $10 weekly copay.

@Angela you apply for a child care voucher. https://www.nyc.gov/site/acs/early-care/families.page

@Stacy well gee idk. I just filled out my paperwork online and they told me my payment would be about $6 a week. And that was my income along with my child support as they counted it all together. I think the end total was about 65 or something like that. It wasn’t 72K but it was very close to it. I had made a post… not sure if it’s still up mad cuz. I thought that they only were gonna take $6 off but it was actually what I was approved to pay in the end. Only thing is it still hasn’t kicked in. So that’s tough one. And the daycare provider wants payment still until it does.

@Stacy https://www.peanut-app.io/share/5R1aDBUnuOb Here is my post. The woman there had some info that was helpful to me. I put 50K of what I make but it’s higher. I was just embarrassed either way cuz in NYC it’s still not a lot of money

@Stacy I get what you say about not having anything after bills. I just finished paying for court for custody and child support. I have to now go back for some modifications and there for sure were some nights the past few weeks was crying. I would get paid and minutes after I would have all of $10 to my name for the week..

@Wendi Ugghh, that’s sucks. I would call them tomorrow and check how much they’re going to pay towards care for you. I thought they’d cover all of it if not a good amount. Turns out that’s not even close. I stayed on the phone for hours to just an update on the status, I was approved and got my voucher already, and that’s when they told me what I’ll receive once the enrollment process is done. I was approved to pay $10 a week but they only pay the $250-$400 (depends on if the place or person is licensed or not). If you have an income somewhere close to mine including child support sounds like you’ll be in the same position.

@Wendi I’m scrambling last minute now to figure out how I’m going to pay another $250- $500 a week because I’m suppose to be back at work next month. I don’t get any child support either. No family to help, only my aunt who works 12 hr days and my grandmother who has cancer.

@Stacy yeah I sent an email Friday, but Monday was a holiday so I was gonna wait till see if they resond this week. From what they all said on my post I should be only paying $6. Her daycare provider said the same thing too. But we shall see. Her childcare at this place isn’t too high and the judge added child care to the support too, so I’m not too worried. Out of the 227 a week we have to pay at this moment I only need to cover $86. But because of all the court fees and other bills not being paid it’s still a lot. My friend however is right under me and she has her child care covered 100%. So that’s why I ever applied. And her daughter is in a VERY good daycare. Mine is ok but hers is better. That’s why I thought to try. But soon as it comes in, I’ll update the final amount.

@Wendi I have to go with private unlicensed because I work at a hospital 3PM to 11PM. The woman told be they cover $250 of which I’m responsible for the $10 a week and any remainder.

Aahhhh I didn’t know. So your daycare is open 3-11? Crazy cuz I’m looking for childcare to go back to school .. didn’t know there were options like that.

I wasn’t able to find a daycare center that does late hours. I had to find someone private. You’re allowed to do that.

@Stacy so basically you have a nanny who takes a voucher?

Kind of. My daughter would be dropped off at her house on my way to work. She also has her 3 kids in the house.