WorkLife Office increases opportunity to support families during pandemic

To support the changing financial circumstances families have faced during the pandemic, the WorkLife Office evaluated its dependent care services and grant programs and made adjustments, increasing the pool of eligible families in 2021.

The Child Care Subsidy Grant (CCSG) program provides grants to benefits-eligible employees with children ages 10 and younger to help meet the cost of child care. 

The grants are based, in part, on each employee’s household income, and when they apply; employees who become newly eligible after the Sept. 1 grant deadline (including new hires) typically have the opportunity to apply for a pro-rated 6-month grant in May. 

The recent evaluation of the program revealed there may be greater need this year as household incomes have shifted unpredictably throughout 2020. As a result, WorkLife has added another mid-year grant cycle during winter quarter, and the deadline is March 1, 2021. 

The pro-rated 9-month grant cycle creates opportunity for employees who were ineligible for the previous application period, with a maximum grant of $3,750.

Those who receive this mid-year award may reapply for the full 12-month grant when that application cycle opens this summer. (Those who apply for the 9-month grant do not also need to apply for the 6-month grant that opens in May.)

Who should apply:

• Employees who were ineligible during the previous application period; or
• Have added a new, eligible dependent to their family between Sept. 2, 2020, and March 1, 2021; or
• Are newly hired by March 1, 2021.

Effective date:

Awardees will be notified via email in early April and a one-time grant (maximum of $3,750) will be issued in April 2021.

Application deadline:

March 1, 2021 (be sure to include the required financial documents when submitting your application).

For more information:

Review the CCSG program requirements and apply for the 9-month taxable grant on the Child Care Subsidy Grant Program page.