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Paying for Child Care
Average Weekly Cost of Child Care
Below are some average ranges of weekly child care costs in Minnesota as of June 2008. Rates for part-time and drop-in care may be higher than those listed below.
Metro |
Centers |
Family |
Infant |
$286.00 |
$160.00 |
Toddler |
$240.00 |
$150.00 |
Preschool |
$212.00 |
$140.00 |
School-Age |
$184.00 |
$125.00 |
Outstate |
Centers |
Family |
Infant |
$177.00 |
$125.00 |
Toddler |
$159.00 |
$119.00 |
Preschool |
$146.00 |
$115.00 |
School-Age |
$136.00 |
$109.00 |
For more information regarding child care rates in your area, contact your local Child Care Resource and Referral agency. To find this contact information click here.
Financial Aid For Child Care
Click here to visit the Child Care Financial Aid Web site to receive an immediate estimate of the benefits and amounts for which you qualify.
Child Care Assistance (CCA) helps families pay for child care costs for all children age 12 and younger, and for special needs children through age 14. The child care being used must be pre-approved and the parent must be working 20 or more hours per week at minimum wage or higher, job searching or going to school. There is no limit on how long a family may receive Child Care Assistance as long as the family income is within the program limits for the family's size and the child is age-eligible. Help is available from the following Child Care Assistance Programs:
- Basic Sliding Fee requires that a family be below 47% of State
Median Income to be income eligible for Child Care Assistance. In most counties there is a waiting list for this program.
- Minnesota Family Investment Plan (MFIP) is the current welfare program that a family may be part of for up
to 60 months (5 years). MFIP families are eligible for Child Care Assistance immediately and are not placed on a waiting list.
They need to be job searching or employed 20 or more hours per week.
- Transition Year Child Care Assistance is for families who are moving off MFIP and continue to receive child care assistance for up to one year. After this year, families are eligible to receive Basic Sliding Fee. If there is a waiting list, these families get priority.
Tax Credits and Assistance
The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit permits parents to receive federal and state tax credits for child care expenses. The amount you can claim depends on your income and how much you pay for child care in a calendar year. Use IRS Form 4221 Credit for Child Care and Dependent Care Expenses (federal), and MN Form M-1 (state).
Pre-tax Accounts for child and dependent care may be available through your employer. This option requires you to estimate your annual expenses (up to $5,000) and draw those funds throughout the year from an account that has been set up using pre-tax dollars from your payroll deductions. Ask your employer if this is available where you work.
The Earned Income Tax Credit and the Minnesota Working Family Credit are federal and state credits that help contribute to working families income by increasing your tax return at the end of the year or by adjusting your monthly withholding. Your employer can give you more information, or you can call the Minnesota Department of Revenue at (651) 296-3781. For information, call your local Child Care Resource and Referral program.
The Education Tax Credit is a Minnesota credit that allows low to moderate income families to deduct certain K-12 educational expenses from your taxes. Some child care related expenses such as school age enrichment programs or tutoring might qualify. Consult the instructions or call the State of Minnesota at (651) 296-3781 for more information.
The Minnesota Child Care Resource and Referral Network is a member of the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies and is funded in part by the Minnesota Department of Human Services. |
To connect to your local Resource and Referral agency: (888) 291-9811 Minnesota Child Care Resource & Referral Network Email: info@mnchildcare.org © 2008 Minnesota Child Care Resource & Referral Network
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