Child Care Subsidy

The University of Michigan offers the Child Care Subsidy to students to assist with the cost of licensed child care of their young, dependent children. To align with the university's plans in which students will pursue their education through in-person, hybrid, and/or remote formats, the university temporarily changed eligibility criteria for the Child Care Subsidy beginning fall term 2020.
During this temporary period, which will end at the close of the spring/summer 2022 term, child care expenses from any licensed child care provider will be eligible for reimbursement under the subsidy, regardless of the state, country, or agency of licensure. Eligibility will once again be limited to the State of Michigan beginning fall 2022. Other eligibility criteria for the Child Care Subsidy continue to be in effect.
To be eligible for consideration for the child care subsidy, students must:
U-M will make an exception to employment criteria for a non-student partner/spouse who cannot work due to a disability. Please note this on your application so your situation may be considered during review. You may be asked to document your partner/spouse's employment or student status. Read an explanation of why the university requires spouses to be in school or employed. Read an explanation of why the university requires partners/spouses to be in school or employed.
Note: If you do not meet eligibility criteria for the Child Care Subsidy Program but believe you have an extenuating circumstance, please contact us and offer details.
a. The appropriate Child Care Subsidy Application (found in the "Subsidy Applications and Related Forms" section below). If you received the subsidy for fall/winter terms and want it for spring/summer, you must submit a new application.
b. International students only: Submit both the Child Care Subsidy Application and an International Student Financial Data Form. The International Student Financial Data Form requires you to submit tax return information.
Note: If you previously submitted any of these forms to apply for financial aid, do NOT submit them again.
Students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as applicants will be funded on a first-come, firstserved basis. The application for this term is made available in May, and notifications will be sent to eligible applicants in mid-July. Funding may be limited – should funding be exhausted, the application will be removed from our website.
Students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as applicants will be funded on a first-come, firstserved basis. The application for this term is made available in February, and notifications will be sent to eligible applicants in mid-April. Funding may be limited – should funding be exhausted, the application will be removed from our website.
The amount of Child Care Subsidy awarded to eligible applicants is based on applicants' financial need, the number of children they have enrolled in licensed child care facilities, their child care expenses, and available funding. Applicants will be notified in writing of their eligibility for the subsidy and the amount they will receive. The subsidy amount cannot exceed the cost of your licensed child care.
For one child, the maximum is $3,430 per term
For two children, the maximum is $5,029 per term
For three or more children, award maximum is $6,631
You must demonstrate financial need to be eligible for the Child Care Subsidy program. Financial need is calculated as follows:
Estimated Cost of Attendance
– Expected Family Contribution/Available Resources
= Demonstrated Financial Need
This estimated amount includes tuition, fees, an allowance for books and supplies, a reasonable allowance for living expenses, and child care expenses as reported on the Child Care Subsidy Application.
The Office of Financial Aid calculates your expected family contribution based on your Child Care Subsidy Application, your tax returns, and the FAFSA or International Student Financial Data Form. The calculation is based on such items as your earnings; checking, savings, cash, and money market accounts; investments and real estate holdings other than your family's primary residence; business equity; untaxed income; income from assistantships; and other financial aid you are receiving through your academic department and the Office of Financial Aid.
Funds are disbursed through the University Payroll System in the form of a check payable to you or, if you have authorized direct deposit, funds will be deposited to your bank account. For information about direct deposit, (see the Direct Deposit section from the Student Business page of Wolverine Access).
We will need a copy of your child care contract or other documents verifying your child care expenses and your provider's licensure prior to payment.
Free Access to Care.com
Through an agreement with Care.com, university faculty, staff and students can access a network of caregivers in their area. The service includes caregivers for children (including tutors), adults, seniors, pets and more.
The monthly membership fee is covered but employees and students will be responsible for the cost of the care they utilize.
Regular (benefit-eligible) full-time and part-time employees are granted automatic access, but students will need to manually opt in. To do so, students will need to complete a simple survey.
This benefit is currently available for one year (until mid-January 2022). More information can be found at the U-M Human Resources page on child care resources.
Family-to-Family Posting Board
The other resource that launched recently is a family-to-family online posting board for various care needs. Employees and students can create and respond to posts about sharing resources and providing unpaid support such as occasional child care, tutoring and learning support, or elder care.
Once the employees or students connect, they can follow up independently to discuss arrangements.
This information and more can be found at the webpages below: