All Pawtucket All The Time

Dear Dr. Day Care,

With the rising cost of child care tuition and the economy in such a slump do you have any ideas of how to save money in child care?

Signed,

Need Ideas for Subsidizing My Child Care Tuition. 

Dear Need Ideas for Subsidizing My Child Care Tuition,

          This is an excellent question and I highly suggest you begin by checking in with your work’s Human Resource Department to see if they offer a FLEX /TASC plan know as a Dependent Care Assistance Account  Program (DCAP). This is the very best way to save  up to 25% per week on your child care weekly tuition.

            One of the most beneficial ways to save on tuition and put it back in your pocket book is to utilize the Dependent Care Assistance Account (DCAP) through a company FLEX plan. The guidelines to a DCAP plan reported to me through Anthony Scorpio CPA, are: 1) children must reside in your home more than half the year and be under the age of thirteen and 2) are members of your household for whom you claim expenses on your federal income tax form 2441(Credit for Child and Dependent Care Expenses).  The child care expenses are paid before federal income taxes or social security are with held.  The savings could be up to twenty-five percent of your child care expenses based on your tax bracket.  Have a conversation as soon as possible with your employer because this benefit usually begins on January 1st  of each year so you can arrange for this benefit.

Here are some other ways to save on weekly child care tuition payment:

 Scholarships

            Check with your child care provider and ask if they are providing scholarships or if they know of local agencies that provide this type of financial assistance.

Cabrini Fund

            The Cabrini Fund is a scholarship program available to the general public from the Diocese of Providence. You can call 401.421.7833 to apply.

Gift Certificates

            Families who have grandchildren, relatives or friend’s children in childcare should suggest at “gift giving time” (Christmas, Hanukah, birthday) that friends/family purchase a gift certificate from the child care center the child attends to assist in the tuition payments.

Military Subsidy Program

The US military will reimburses child care centers full tuition of a child(ren) enrolled in their facility when a family member is deployed. The website is www.naccrra.org/militaryprograms to sign on for the free childcare subsidy.  

Under the military subsidy, Rhode Island also offers a childcare subsidy for a child’s family while a family member is deployed. When a parent is already utilizing the RI CCAP (childcare assistance program) before they are deployed they continue to be eligible for the childcare subsidy.

Bethany Sculley-Tortis

Dr. Day Care Family

462 Smithfield Avenue

Pawtucket, RI 02860