Child Care Grant

Cornell's Child Care Grant provides financial assistance to faculty and staff for child care expenses that allow you and your spouse or partner to work or seek work. 

About the Grant

The Cornell Child Care Grant is a tax-free grant that is typically not considered taxable income.** You can apply for and be awarded funds to use toward eligible childcare expenses incurred from January 1 – December 31 of the given year. Funds can cover infant and toddler child care, pre-school/pre-K programs, care on school holidays, school-age summer day camps/programs, and school-age before/after school care.

An award determination is a flat dollar amount based on household income and the age of your child(ren). 

This benefit is a reimbursement program. Funds are deposited into a PayFlex account in your name. PayFlex is the company that processes flexible spending account claims for Cornell. Itemized receipts for childcare expenses must be submitted (electronically or via mail) to PayFlex for reimbursement of your award funds.

Eligibility

You

• Benefits-eligible faculty and staff members*,  
• Who are unmarried or have a spouse/partner who is:
  • Employed at least part time,
  • A full-time student,
  • Considered legally disabled, or
  • Unemployed but actively seeking employment; and
• Have a total household gross income of less than $150,000 per year.

*If you are uncertain of your eligibility status for this benefit, please contact your HR representative to review

Your child(ren)

• A legal dependent who you claim on your income tax return, and
• Have a child between the ages of 6 weeks through 12 years old or an older child with a disability requiring care. If your child is age 13 or older, supporting documentation from a medical doctor is needed.

Pregnant, expecting, or adopting a child?

If you are pregnant, expecting, or adopting a child during the period covered by the award, you may apply for a partial grant for expected expenses.

Expenses

Only expenses related to legal child care, as defined by the IRS Publication 503, Child and Dependent Care Expenses are eligible, which includes expenses for regulated and informal care.

Please be aware that by applying for the Grant, you are certifying that your expenses are accurately estimated and eligible under the legal child care definitions listed below. Cornell Benefit Services and Administration reviews all applications, awards, and claims, to detect any potentially fraudulent activity. Thus, supporting documentation may be requested. Any misrepresentation of information can result in the termination of the Grant and could have adverse employment consequences.

Legal Child Care

Dependent Care FSAs can be used for care across the United States and outside of the USA.  In New York State, there are several forms of legal care, including both informal and regulated care. These include the following categories:

Estimating Expenses

To submit an accurate and best estimate of the cost of care; contact the child care provider(s) that you expect to use. If you are new to Cornell or are a new parent/expecting/adopting parent, you may contact Cornell Work/Life. Employees and their families that are in the Ithaca area can also contact the Child Development Council of Tompkins County for assistance.  For those outside of Ithaca, please contact Child Care resources in your area.  In all cases, your reimbursement amount is less than or equal to what you pay your provider.

** Cornell cannot act as a personal tax consultant. The contents of this page are for informational purposes only. All U.S. citizens and foreign national visitors to the U.S. are personally responsible for knowing the tax laws and how they pertain to him/her individually. For example, if a grant award is not used in the year, there is the possibility that the unused amount may be taxable.