Trump administration plans child care subsidies for stay-at-home parents: Report | Today’s news
The Trump administration is reportedly preparing a major change to the U.S. federal child care subsidy system that could allow some married couples with stay-at-home parents to receive government assistance.
The proposal, backed by Vice President JD Vance, would expand the use of federal child care funds to families where one parent stays home to care for the couple’s children while the other works.
If implemented, it would mark a significant shift in the purpose of federal child care assistance, which has traditionally been focused on helping working and low-income parents pay for child care so they can stay employed, attend school or receive job training.
What is the proposed change?
The administration is considering changes to the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), a federal program administered by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Under the proposed rule, a married couple could be eligible for assistance even if one parent does not work outside the home and instead cares for the couple’s child, The New York Times reported.
The proposal calls this a new category of “parental childcare”.
Under the draft document, one married parent could receive CCDF childcare assistance if the other spouse works at least 35 hours a week.
The subsidy would effectively help compensate for part of the income that the family loses because one of the parents decides to stay at home.
How does it differ from the current system?
The federal child care program was created in the 1990s primarily to help low-income and working-class parents afford child care while they work, attend school, or receive job training.
The proposed amendment would expand this purpose.
Instead of federal money being used primarily to pay for outside child care, some of these funds could effectively support parents who care at home.
The program currently provides approximately $9,000 per child each year, according to information provided in the report.
Who could qualify?
The proposal would only apply to certain married families who meet income requirements.
-Parents must be married.
-One parent must stay at home and take care of the child.
-The other spouse must work at least 35 hours a week.
-The family must meet the income requirements of the program.
-Household income generally must be less than 85% of the state median income, although some states use a lower 60% threshold.
Unmarried couples where one parent stays at home would not qualify under the proposal.
Single parents who do not work would also remain ineligible.
