About NCI​ (WorkForce Financial Assistance)

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To locate the services office nearest you, click on the link below. enter your five-digit ZIP Code and select "Child Care Assistance" as service type. Click here.​  ​First steps is providing this information as a service to our customers. We do not guarantee that when or if you will receive NCI. For any or all other information about NCI (Child Support) Please always contact your local area office

How to Qualify for NCI Daycare Assistance

Texas offers government assistance to those who must put their children in day care. The most common assistance programs are NCI and CCMS. NCI provides parents with a small amount of money to reimburse them for day care. As of March 2011, most parents receive several hundred dollars per child, while day care costs an average of $600 to $700 per month. Parents must work at least 25 hours per week to qualify for funding.

Instructions

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1- Determine if you meet the minimum eligibility. You must have at least one child under 13, or a child under 19 who qualifies as special needs, and qualify as a low-income family. To learn of any new requirements, contact your local Workforce Solutions office and ask to speak to a CPS representative. Ask for the edibility requirements for the current year. See the Resources section for a directory of offices.

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2- Prove your income eligibility using tax returns, a note from your employee or a pay stub. You income cannot exceed 85 percent of the state medium. As of March 2011, medium income in Texas is $55,534 for a three-person family and $64,420 for a four-person family.

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3- Put your child in a licensed day care center. Ask the manager for proof that your child is in day care, such as a receipt.

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4- Assemble any other necessary materials, such as birth certificates for your children, proof your child is special needs or proof of government assistance.

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5- Visit your nearby Workforce Solutions office and ask to speak to a CPS representative.

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6- Show the CPS representative your materials and fill out the NCI application forms. At times, there is a waiting list for assistance and you may have to make an appointment to come back in the future.

 

Daycare Assistance Income Guidelines

Low-income families can get assistance from their state with daycare costs. Every state has daycare assistance, but the guidelines and requirements vary by state. Having a general idea of what your income should be in order to receive assistance will help you decide if you may qualify or not.

The Poverty Level
In general, in order to receive daycare assistance, your income should be around or lower than the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines. For a family of two, that means $29,140 per year. For a family of three, it is $36,620 per year. For a family of four, it is $44,100. For a family of five, it is $51,580 per year. For a family of six, it is $59,060 per year. For a family of seven, it is $66,540 per year, and for a family of eight, it is $74,020 per year. If your income is slightly above, at, or below the poverty line, you should check with your state to see if you are eligible for daycare assistance.

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Other Guidelines
In most states, a low income is not the only requirement for daycare assistance. Each adult in the household must also work 20 hours per week or work ten hours per week and spend ten hours per week in higher education or vocational training school. If you normally make enough money to send your child to daycare but were forced to take a pay cut in order to go to school, you may be eligible for daycare assistance through your state. The hours you send your child to daycare must coincide with your work or school hours. The parent will also be responsible for a copay. The copay varies from state to state and depends on your income, but co pays generally range from $5 to $25 per week, which helps the state cover your daycare costs.

 

You may be put on a waitlist for daycare assistance if your income falls at the high end of the eligible range and your state is currently out of funding for its daycare assistance program.

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Proof
In order to receive daycare assistance, you will have to prove that you meet the guidelines, especially the income guidelines. When you apply for assistance, you'll need to show proof of your employment, meaning several pay stubs, a statement from your employer, or last year's tax return. You'll also need to provide documentation for all other funds you may be receiving, like social security and other state program money, inheritances, and other assets.