Oklahoma disaster survivors may be eligible for FEMA Child Care Assistance even if they did not have property damage. FEMA may award payment for Child Care Assistance under its Other Needs Assistance program to those with disaster-caused child care expenses following the April 19-20 tornadoes, straight-line wind and severe weather.
FEMA Child Care Assistance may address disaster-related expenses for eligible households with children who are under the age of 13 or households with children with a disability up to age 21, who need assistance with activities of daily living such as eating, bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring (walking), and continence.
Eligible child care expenses include standard child care service fees and personal assistance services that support activities of daily living for individuals with disabilities.
Child care registration fees and health inventory fees are eligible expenses for applicants who require a new child care service provider.
- A registration fee is a one-time fee when registering an eligible child at an authorized child care provider.
- A health inventory fee is a medical office fee for processing required medical paperwork as part of the registration process.
Child Care Assistance may be available for up to eight weeks per child or household. The maximum amount for child care for Oklahomans is $1,500 per child.
Child Care Assistance eligibility begins on the date of the incident period for the declared disaster and continues through the end of the 18-month period of assistance unless the time is extended.
To qualify for Child Care Assistance these general conditions must be met for an applicant to be eligible to receive IHP assistance:
- The applicant must meet the Individuals and Households eligibility.
- The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, noncitizen national, or qualified alien.
- FEMA must be able to verify the applicant’s identity.
- The applicant’s insurance, or other forms of disaster assistance received, does not cover child care loss.
- The applicant must have necessary expenses (child care facility damaged or inoperable) caused by the disaster.
In addition to meeting the general conditions of eligibility as a direct result of the disaster, households must have a disaster-caused increase in financial burden for child care.
- The applicant’s gross household income has decreased; or
- The applicant’s child care expenses have increased.
Households must certify they cannot utilize child care services provided by any other source to qualify for Child Care Assistance. Households must submit documents showing a disaster-caused need for Child Care Assistance and amount of eligible expenses.
Documents Required:
- Pre- and post-disaster gross household income documentation.
- Pre-disaster receipts, contract, or signed letter from the child care provider for child care expenses.
- Post-disaster receipts or estimates for child care fees, registration, and/or health inventory fees.
- A post-disaster child care provider’s license and post-disaster child care contract or agreement.
- Individualized Educational Plan (IEP), 504 plan, or a medical professional’s statement, if applicable, to verify disability for children up to age 21 who need assistance.
- A signed, written statement from the applicant.
Limitation and Exclusions
If a child is a member of multiple households, FEMA will only award Child Care Assistance to the primary custodial parent or guardian responsible for child care costs.
FEMA will not help with any of the following:
- Fees for extra-curricular activities, educational services and additional services.
- Fees not related to the day-to-day child care services provided to the eligible child.
- Fuel expenses related to transporting the child to and from the child care provider.
- Medical care or services.
- Recreational camps or clubs.
Households who did not have child care expenses pre-disaster but have incurred or will incur child care expenses because of the disaster may also be eligible but must meet additional eligibility requirements. For additional information, contact the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 or visit a Disaster Recovery Center. To find a center near you, visit fema.gov/drc.
To apply for assistance, visit www.disasterassistance.gov. If it is not possible to apply online, call 800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone lines operate from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. CDT seven days a week. If you use video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA your number for that service.