If you are a New York City parent struggling to afford child care, you have probably heard about the ACS Child Care Voucher — a subsidy that can dramatically reduce or eliminate what you pay for daycare, family day care, or a group family home. But in 2026, the program is more complicated to access than it used to be. Here is exactly what is happening, what your real options are right now, and how to make the system work for your family.
What Is the ACS Child Care Voucher?
The ACS Child Care Voucher — also called the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) — is a federally and city-funded subsidy that helps low- and moderate-income NYC families pay for licensed child care. The voucher pays providers directly, and families may pay little to nothing depending on income. It covers infants, toddlers, and children up to age 13. Vouchers can be used at licensed day care centers, family day care homes, and group family day care homes throughout the five boroughs.
The 2026 Reality: The Voucher Waitlist
Here is what ACS is currently saying: due to insufficient funding, the City is no longer able to offer child care vouchers to families who are not on cash assistance (public assistance). If you apply for a voucher and are found eligible but are not on public assistance, your child will be placed on a waitlist.
This does not mean you should not apply. It means you need to apply now and pursue the contracted care option in parallel.
Who Still Gets Priority Access?
Families who receive cash assistance through HRA remain eligible for vouchers without going on a waitlist. If you currently receive public assistance, contact your HRA case worker to request a child care referral, or call HRA via 311. Families where a child is at risk or involved in the child welfare system may also qualify for priority placement through an ACS caseworker.
The Workaround: Apply for Contracted Care Instead
This is the most important thing most parents do not know: when you apply through MyCity at mycity.nyc.gov, you should select Contracted Care rather than Voucher as your preference.
With contracted care, you are placed directly into a city-contracted child care center or family day care home — without going on a voucher waitlist. These seats are funded separately and are available right now. The trade-off is fewer choices of provider, but you can access subsidized care much faster.
- Go to mycity.nyc.gov and create an account
- Open the Child Care Assistance Application
- Select Contracted Care when asked about your preference
- Upload required documents: proof of income, residency, and your child’s date of birth
Income Eligibility
CCAP eligibility is set by New York State at 85% of the State Median Income, adjusted for family size, per the NYS Office of Children and Family Services at ocfs.ny.gov. Families earning above the threshold may pay a co-pay on a sliding scale; many lower-income families pay nothing. For current income limits by family size, visit the ACCESS NYC Child Care Voucher page, which maintains updated eligibility guidelines and a quick screener.
Free Universal Options: 3-K and Pre-K
If your child is turning 3 or 4 this year, there is a completely separate no-income-limit program: NYC 3-K and Universal Pre-K. These free programs run through NYC Public Schools and are open to every NYC child regardless of immigration status or family income. They are not connected to the voucher system at all. For details, see our guide: NYC Pre-K and 3-K Enrollment: How to Apply for Free Early Childhood Programs.
Other Free and Low-Cost Child Care Options
Head Start and Early Head Start are federally funded programs serving low-income children from birth through age 5. Search for NYC Head Start locations at eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov.
NYCHA residents may have access to on-site or nearby contracted child care through NYCHA-affiliated programs. Ask your property manager or call 311 for a referral.
If your employer offers a Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, you can pay for child care with pre-tax dollars — reducing your effective out-of-pocket cost depending on your tax rate.
Action Steps
- Apply today through MyCity and select Contracted Care for faster access: mycity.nyc.gov
- Check ACCESS NYC to screen your eligibility: access.nyc.gov/programs/child-care-voucher
- If you receive cash assistance, call HRA via 311 or contact your caseworker immediately — you have priority access without a waitlist.
- If your child is 3 or 4, apply for 3-K or Pre-K through NYC Public Schools — free, universal, no income limit required.
- Questions? Call the ACS CFWB Call Center: 212-835-7610, Monday through Friday.
NYC’s child care subsidy system is under real funding strain right now, but the contracted care path is open and the universal programs are running. Apply now — waitlists only grow longer over time.
