What Benefits Are Available?

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What benefits are available?

What is the sliding fee scale for child care in New Mexico?

How are fees adjusted for part-time child care?

How are fees adjusted for a family with several children in child care?

Is transportation available?

NOTE: Glossary words are highlighted. Click on any glossary word to see its definition.

What benefits are available?

If you qualify for income-eligible child care, you will get reduced cost child care for your children. The fee you will pay is based on your income and family size. If you have more than one child in child care, the fee is reduced after the first child. Child care is free if your family's income is below the federal poverty level. (View the U.S. federal poverty guidelines.)

The number of days and hours of child care you will receive depends on your service need. If you are working full time, for example, you will get full time child care. If you are only working part-time, you will get part-time care.

You may choose the type of child care (center-based, family care, in-home care, etc.) you want for your child. If you need help finding a child care provider, a counselor from your Child Care Resource and Referral Agency will help you.

Depending on where you live, you may be put on a waiting list.  You need to have already chosen your child care provider when applying for a placement agreement through the CYFD Child Care Bureau.

What is the sliding fee scale for child care in New Mexico?

The sliding fee scale for child care is a list of fees that families must pay for subsidized child care in New Mexico. Fees are based on income and family size. Families with lower incomes or more children pay less than families with higher incomes or fewer children. The sliding fee scale is set by the CYFD Child Care Bureau.

These fees are based on five full days of child care. To get the complete co-pay chart, contact your local CYFD Child Care Bureau (statewide: 1-800-832-1321 or in Albuquerque: 505-827-7499).

NOTE: You are responsible for paying taxes, registration fees and other charges that are not included in the monthly facility fee.

How are fees adjusted for part-time child care?

Fees for part-time care are reduced proportionally. For example, a family would pay half of the regular full-time fee if a child was going to child care for five half days.

How are fees adjusted for a family with several children in child care?

Families with more than one child in child care pay a discounted fee for each child beyond the first. The fee for the second child is one half of the regular fee, and the fee for each additional child is one fourth of the regular fee.

Is transportation available?

Some child care providers have their own transportation service to pick up and drop off children in their care. There may be an extra fee for this service.

Many child care centers are on bus routes. Be sure to consider the availability of transportation when selecting a child care provider.