Child Care Resources Series: Child and Dependent Care Credit

3. Child and Dependent Care Credit

What is it?

• a federal tax credit for working families and individuals for child or dependent care

Do I qualify?

• if you pay for the care of a child 12 years or younger, or older individuals who are physically or mentally unable to care for themselves
• if the child care to allow you or your spouse to work, or look for work
• if you earned income (salaries, wages, tips, net income from self-employment)

How do I apply?

• When filing your taxes, claim this credit by filling out Form 2441 with IRS form 1040 or 1040A
• Have your taxes done for free by a trained volunteer with VITA

Food Resources Series: Child and Adult Care Food Program

5. Child and Adult Care Food Program


What is it?

• provides free or low cost meals and snacks outside of school- in child care centers, Head Start programs, emergency shelters, as well as day care centers for adults over the age of 60

Do I qualify?

• for children under the age of 12, or with special needs up to age 18, who are already enrolled in SNAP, TANF, Head Start, Even Start of living in an emergency shelter
  
• for adults over the age of 60 who are cared for in adult day care centers and receive Medicaid, Social Security Income, or SNAP
• if neither, you may qualify for free meals if you earn up to 130% of the poverty level; for reduced price meals if you earn up to 185% of the poverty level*

*see NSLP chart


How do I apply?

• through the care center in which your child or adult relative is enrolled- call and ask!