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Crossroads of the Marine Corps

New guidelines released for off-base child care fee assistance program

26 Nov 2014 | Sgt. Rebekka S. Heite Marine Corps Base Quantico

Off base child care subsidy will no longer be given at a flat rate of $250 per child but will be based on Total Family Income, according to Marine Administrative Message 570/14.

 

“Marine families with a lower income will benefit with an increased amount of fee assistance applied to their monthly child care cost,” said Belynda Smith, Children, Youth & Teen Programs section head, Marine and Family Programs Division.

 

The new subsidy will be calculated using the difference between the DOD Fee based on TFI and the provider’s rate, which shall not exceed $900, the maximum fair market rate.

 

For example, “A category 4 family who would pay $103 weekly (at an on base facility), multiply that by 4.33 weeks, they would pay $445.99 a month. If the family chooses (an off base) program that costs $900 then the USMC would pay $454. If the family chooses a program that costs $1,100 then the family would pay $645.99, an additional $200,” said Smith.

 

Another change to the Off Base Child Care Fee Assistance Program was the additional eligibility of school-aged children who attend school in the community and do not have transportation to installation care.

 

Marine families must meet eligibility requirements in order to receive fee assistance. These requirements include, but are not limited to: the Marine must be in an active duty status for a minimum of 31 days, the Marine family must live more than 15 miles from a Marine Corps Child Development Program, the child must live with the Marine when not deployed, and families must re-certify annually.

 

“On installation services were not reduced,” said Smith. “Changes to the Fee Assistance Program are not related to installation-based budget reduction efforts.”

 

To complete an application or for more information on the Off Base Child Care Fee Assistance Program, visit www.NACCRRA.org/Military-Families or call 1-800-793-0324. 

 

rebekka.heite@usmc.mil


Marine Corps Base Quantico