Those programs are income limited and don’t really provide much support compared to the cost of child care.
Cost of child care
I my state, child care runs between $1,500 and $2,200 per month ($18,000 to $26,400 per year) per child (I pay about $1,800 per month).
TANF benefits
TANF benefits are income based. They decrease as income increases and end at $75,000 household income.
The maximum possible benefit of $592 per month ($7,104 per year) is provided for a family with one parent and two children with zero income.
If that single parent earns $1,000 per month ($12,000 per year) their benefit drops to $330 per month ($3,960 per year).
Availability of care
To top that off, child care facilities are not required to accept TANF because it places limits on how much they can charge. Most place limits on the number of TANF recipients they will enroll and some simply don’t accept TANF.
Those programs are income limited and don’t really provide much support compared to the cost of child care.
Cost of child care
I my state, child care runs between $1,500 and $2,200 per month ($18,000 to $26,400 per year) per child (I pay about $1,800 per month).
TANF benefits
TANF benefits are income based. They decrease as income increases and end at $75,000 household income.
The maximum possible benefit of $592 per month ($7,104 per year) is provided for a family with one parent and two children with zero income.
If that single parent earns $1,000 per month ($12,000 per year) their benefit drops to $330 per month ($3,960 per year).
Availability of care
To top that off, child care facilities are not required to accept TANF because it places limits on how much they can charge. Most place limits on the number of TANF recipients they will enroll and some simply don’t accept TANF.