New York child care assistance and free pre-K: CCAP, QUALITYstarsNY and UPK (2026)

Counties and ACS run CCAP under OCFS rules

CCAP pays a provider of the parent’s choice: a licensed center, a family or group family home, a school-age program, or a legally exempt caregiver who does not need a license ⁠⁴. Payment is the provider’s actual charge up to the market rate set by OCFS for that county, provider type and age group ⁠⁴⁠⁵. The family’s resources must be $1 million or less ⁠¹. In a two-parent home, each caretaker must have a qualifying reason for care ⁠¹.

Some families are guaranteed help no matter how much money the district has left. These are families on Temporary Assistance who need care for required activities or work, and working families who choose child care instead of a cash grant. Families leaving Temporary Assistance are also guaranteed care for up to 12 months, if they received it in at least three of the previous six months and earn no more than 85% of state median income ⁠¹⁠³. Once approved, a family keeps care for at least 12 months while income stays under 85% SMI. Districts may extend this to 24 months ⁠³.

Two income ceilings: 85% SMI and the 300% waiver line

The statewide ceiling in the table above is 85% of state median income, published for June 1, 2026 to May 31, 2027. In monthly terms it is $6,601.24 for two people, $8,154.48 for three and $9,707.71 for four ⁠⁵. The regulation also uses a second figure, the state income standard, which is the federal poverty line. Several provisions are written as “up to 300 percent of the state income standard,” capped at 85% SMI ⁠¹.

That second line matters in districts that have run short of money. Cattaraugus County works under a state-approved waiver and publishes 300% of the state income standard as its maximum for the same period ⁠⁶:

Sources: Erie County DSS ⁠⁵ and Cattaraugus County DSS ⁠⁶. For each person beyond eight, add $3,494.78 (85% SMI) or $17,040 (300% line). Ask your district which ceiling it applies to new cases.

The 1% family share and why the federal 7% repeal barely matters here

Social Services Law §410-x(6) says a family cannot be required to pay more than 1% of its income above the federal poverty level ⁠⁴. Erie County applies it this way: subtract the state income standard from annual gross income, multiply by 1%, and divide by 52 to get a weekly fee ⁠⁵. You pay one fee no matter how many children are in care, and you pay it directly to the provider ⁠²⁠⁵. The regulation sets a $1 weekly minimum. Families on Temporary Assistance, families experiencing homelessness, and children in foster care or receiving protective services pay no income-based share ⁠².

Our calculation using the Erie County formula ⁠⁵. The poverty-line figures come from Cattaraugus County’s 300% chart ($81,960 ÷ 3 and $99,000 ÷ 3) ⁠⁶.

A federal rule published in May 2026 repealed the requirement that states cap copayments at 7% of family income ⁠¹⁵. That change does not lower protection in New York: the state’s 1% limit is in statute and works out to under 1% of total income even at the ceiling. In New York City, the October 2026 announcement says the city has also eliminated all out-of-pocket fees for voucher families ⁠⁹.

Ten hours of work, school, or a job search: qualifying reasons for care

For families not on Temporary Assistance, ACS lists the qualifying reasons: working 10 or more hours a week, being in an education or vocational training program, looking for work, living in temporary housing, attending domestic violence services, or receiving substance abuse treatment ⁠⁸. Under the regulation, a district may also cover:

• High school, a high school equivalency program, basic remedial education, literacy training, English as a second language, or state-approved occupational training ⁠¹.
• A two-year degree or certificate program lasting no more than 48 consecutive months. A four-year bachelor’s program qualifies only if the district lists it in its plan and the course is expected to raise your earnings ⁠¹.
• Up to six months of job search, if you are registered with a Department of Labor employment office and the district allows it ⁠¹.

For approved training, bring the school’s name, your course of study, the vocational goal, daily hours (commuting counts up to three hours a day), and progress reports such as transcripts ⁠².

Who still gets a slot when a district runs out of money

Every district must give priority to three federal groups: families with very low income, families with a child with special needs, and families experiencing homelessness ⁠¹. Cattaraugus County and NYC both apply the very-low-income priority to families under 300% of the state income standard ⁠⁶⁠⁹. Districts may add local priorities, but these cannot be based on income or on which provider a parent chooses ⁠¹. If all funds are committed to open cases, a district may deny new non-guaranteed applicants or place them on a waiting list ⁠¹. It must give families 30 days’ written notice before cutting eligibility, raising the family share percentage, or closing cases because funds are short ⁠³.

Two upstate examples:

• Chemung County says demand is greater than its block grant, including its federal fiscal year 2027 allocation. It may deny new applications for lack of funds and will keep a waitlist from October 1, 2026. Under a waiver effective June 24, 2026, families in the three priority groups can keep their cases at recertification if funding allows ⁠⁷.
• Cattaraugus County places every eligible new household on a waitlist and serves federal priority groups first. If more than 30 days pass before your turn, you must file a new application ⁠⁶.

New York City’s voucher pause and the October 2026 reopening

ACS states that, because of insufficient funding, it cannot offer vouchers to families who are not on Cash Assistance. Eligible applicants are placed on a waitlist, while current voucher holders keep their care if they recertify on time ⁠⁸. On October 5, 2026, the city announced it would move more than 10,000 children off that waitlist. The money comes from a $1.2 billion state commitment that includes $475 million for vouchers. ACS is inviting waitlisted families to apply on a rolling basis over the following months, prioritizing the three federal priority groups ⁠⁹. Cash Assistance families apply through their HRA Benefits Access Center. Families who recently left Cash Assistance can ask about one-year Transitional Child Care at [email protected] ⁠⁸.

QUALITYstarsNY ratings and extra provider pay set by law

QUALITYstarsNY is New York’s quality rating and improvement system. Programs that join earn a rating from 1 to 5 stars (5 is the highest) based on documented standards and, at higher levels, a classroom environment assessment. They are re-rated every three years ⁠¹¹. Separately, state law requires districts to pay licensed or registered providers 10% to 15% above the base rate when they care for children experiencing homelessness, measured against the lower of the provider’s charge or the market rate. Licensed, registered or enrolled providers get the same increase for care outside 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays. Districts also pay for up to 80 absence days a year ⁠⁴.

Universal Prekindergarten: the December 1 cutoff and the 2028-29 guarantee

New York’s UPK dates to the 1997 LADDER legislation. It provides free pre-K five days a week for 180 days a year ⁠¹². A child is eligible at age 4 on or before December 1 of the school year, or when first eligible for kindergarten the following year. Some districts use a different cutoff. Three-year-old classes follow the same rule one year earlier ⁠¹³. When applicants outnumber seats, districts must hold a lottery and keep a waitlist ⁠¹³.

The 2026-27 state budget added $431 million for UPK. It made all districts eligible for funding and paid at least $10,000 per full-day 4-year-old seat. It also requires every district to offer a full-day seat to every 4-year-old whose family applies by the 2028-29 school year. Districts must still set aside at least 10% of UPK funds for community partners such as child care centers and Head Start, unless they get a waiver ⁠¹³. In New York City, children born in 2022 can attend Pre-K in 2026-27. School-day seats are free and last 6 hours 20 minutes a day ⁠¹⁴.

Applying through the CCAA portal, MyCity, or your county DSS

1. Find your district and its status

   Outside NYC, call your county department of social services and ask whether it is opening new cases, which income ceiling it uses, and whether it keeps a waitlist ⁠⁶⁠⁷. In NYC, expect a waitlist unless you are on Cash Assistance or are invited off the list ⁠⁸⁠⁹.

2. Gather proof

   Bring income for everyone in the child care unit, your household members, your work or school schedule, and your provider choice. For training, bring the documents listed above ⁠².

3. Apply

   Outside NYC, sign up for OCFS’s Child Care Assistance Application (CCAA) portal or file a paper application with the county. Districts must accept applications by mail or approved electronic means ⁠². In NYC, apply on MyCity or mail the application to NYC Children - EDU, PO Box 40, Maplewood, NJ 07040, but not both ⁠⁸.

4. Answer every request

   If you do not provide documents the district asks for, it can deny or close your case ⁠².

5. Enroll with your provider

   In NYC, you and the provider sign the voucher (CFWB-049) and submit it through the ACS Voucher Enrollment Portal. Enrollment can take up to six weeks ⁠¹⁰. Pay your weekly family share to the provider ⁠⁵.

6. Recertify on time

   Missing your recertification deadline ends assistance. In NYC you would have to reapply and go back on the waitlist ⁠⁸.

7. Appeal a denial or cut

   In NYC, ask for a conference at 212-835-7610. You have 60 days from the notice date to request a state fair hearing at 800-323-3334 or through the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance ⁠¹⁰.

8. Apply for pre-K separately

   For fall 2027 NYC Pre-K (children born in 2023), apply on MySchools from January 13 to February 26, 2027. Offers come out May 11, 2027 ⁠¹⁴. Elsewhere, register with your school district ⁠¹³.

See child care assistance in other states or other help in New York.