Fact Sheet: Child Care Assistance for Hurricane Irma and Maria Survivors

FEMA provides financial assistance to eligible individuals and households who are unable to pay for child care, including an increase in expenses or costs, because of the disaster. Under the Child Care Assistance program, FEMA will award a one-time payment for up to eight weeks of child care, plus any eligible expenses, or the maximum amount identified by the government, whichever is less.

In addition to meeting general conditions of eligibility, eligible child care expenses include:

• Standard child care service fees.
• Registration and medical processing fees for survivors who require a new service provider.

Applicants must also submit:

• Pre- and post-disaster gross household income documentation.
• Pre-disaster receipts or an affidavit for child care expenses, if receipts cannot be located.
• Post-disaster receipts or estimates for child care fees, registration, and/or medical processing fees.
• Child care provider’s license, if the information cannot be located in the government’s licensed provider database.
• Child care contract or agreement.
• Medical statements to verify disability for children aged 14 to 18 in need of care.
• Written statement from survivors acknowledging the expected time child care assistance is needed and has not been received from another source.

For more information about the Child Care Assistance program, visit the nearest disaster recovery center or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 (FEMA). For TTY call 800-462-7585.

###