Military child care fee assistance

The short answer

Yes, there is help. If you cannot get a spot at a military child development center, the Department of War (DoW) runs fee assistance programs that pay part of your bill at a licensed civilian provider. The amount is income-based and "will not cover the entire cost of childcare." Source: Military OneSource.

Program 1: Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood (MCCYN)

• DoW pays a portion of your child care cost "based on your total family income and your provider's rate." You pay a DoW parent fee plus anything your provider charges above the rate cap. Source: MCCYN, Army.
• It is meant for families who cannot use military-operated care because of distance or waitlists. Source: MCCYN overview.
• Active duty members, including reservists on active orders, may apply if they do not have access to on-base child care. Source: Childcare.gov.
• Providers must be licensed, inspected and meet DoW quality standards. Check your provider's licensing record with your state yourself.

Who is eligible. The MCCYN eligibility page lists these sponsors: active duty service members, reservists or Guard on active duty, DoW civilians, and Gold Star Spouses. You must be stationed at an installation where DoW has approved the MCCYN program, or not live near a DoW installation with a Child and Youth Program. If married, your spouse must be employed, actively seeking employment, or a student enrolled in a minimum number of hours. The program serves children 6 weeks to 13 years old. Source: MCCYN eligibility.

How the fee is set. DoW sets Total Family Income (TFI) categories, and your category plus your location and type of care decide the parent fee you pay per child. Source: FY26 MCCYN Parent Fees. The dollar income ranges and monthly fees are in a PDF on that page, which this page could not open, so no income limits or fee amounts are printed here. Open the PDF on that page to see your category.

Program 2: MCCYN-PLUS

• Fee assistance for U.S. military families and DoW civilian families using community child care. It "closes the gap" between what you would pay on the installation and what you pay in the community. Source: Military OneSource MCCYN-PLUS.
• Military OneSource says it is in 20 states and counties so far, with more joining. The page lists Arkansas, Colorado, Kentucky, Maryland, Miami-Dade County (Florida), Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, New Jersey and San Diego County (California). The page says more states continue to join. Check the Military OneSource page for updates before you rely on this.

Other help that is on official pages

• Army Fee Assistance: for Soldiers and Army civilians, this program "buys down the higher cost of off post care" so eligible families pay fees comparable to the installation, for children 6 weeks through 12 years. A working spouse must work or study at least 25 hours a week for full-time help, or 16 to 24 hours for part-time. Apply by creating a household profile on MilitaryChildCare.com and requesting care. The Army page lists 1-800-424-2246 for details. It does not list income limits, so this page could not confirm them. Source: Army MWR: Child Care Fee Assistance.
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account: set aside up to $7,500 ($3,750 if married filing separately) in pre-tax pay for dependent care. Open to active component, active Guard Reserve on Title 10 orders, and DoD civilians; sign up in Federal Benefits Open Season or after a qualifying life event. Source: Childcare.gov, DCFSA.
• State programs: many states offer child care help for low-income families. See Childcare.gov state resources.

How to get on a waitlist

1. Register on MilitaryChildCare.com and build your family profile.
2. Search and request care: child development centers, family child care, school age care or community options.
3. If nothing is open, you are placed on the waitlist and notified when a space opens. You can log in to check your place and change preferences.
4. Ask your installation's Child and Youth Services about fee assistance while you wait.

Where to call and where to go

Phone

• Military OneSource child care consultants, 24/7: 800-342-9647. Source: Military OneSource
• MilitaryChildCare.com help desk: 855-696-2934. Source: MilitaryChildCare.com

Official pages

• MilitaryChildCare.com (request care)
• Army fee assistance (MCCYN)
• Licensed, affordable child care options (Military OneSource)
• Childcare.gov: financial assistance for military families