U.S. Coast Guard Child Care Subsidy Program

The Coast Guard Child Care Subsidy Benefit program was created to assist Coast Guard Members who use any federal child care center, or any state licensed child care facility in the Continental US (CONUS) and outside the Continental US (OCONUS) which includes child development centers as well as in licensed home child care providers to provide childcare for their children.

The benefit is available to Active Duty Crew Members and Active Duty Reservists called to action for 180 days or longer and do not have access to a US Coast Guard Child Development Center (CDC). Families will qualify for subsidy benefits in accordance with the table below based upon their Total Family Income (TFI) (Adjusted Gross Income + Annual BAS + Annual BAH II)

In order to apply for benefits the member must complete/return the following documents:

• Parent Child Care Application, OPM Form 1643
• Copy of your ID Card or Active Duty Orders
• U.S. Coast Guard Child Care Subsidy Application Addendum USCG Form 2011-02
• A copy of your 2010 or 2011 Federal Tax Form
• A copy of the child’s mother, father or other income earning partner’s most recent pay statement or student school schedule that meets one or more of the following:
  • a) Spouse/partner must be working a minimum of 20 hours per week
  • b) Actively seeking employment
  • c) Enrolled in school a minimum of 12 credit hours for spring/fall semester and/or 6 credit hours for summer
  • d) In the process of enrolling in school a minimum of 12 credit hours for spring/fall semester and/or 6 credit hours for summer
  • e) A combination or work and school
• A copy of your spouse/partner’s 2010 or 2011 Federal Tax Return if you filed separately
• A copy of your BAH/Dependency Data Sheet
• A copy of your *most recent Leave and Earnings Statement (LES)
     Must be dated within 90 days of the date of your initial application
• Provider Child Care Application, OPM Form 1644
• A copy of your qualifying child care provider’s license or letter of accreditation

The forms and documents listed above are required for a standard application. Please note that your situation and application may require additional documents and or information.

The complete application package should be submitted directly to GSA for processing.

Upon receipt of the application package, the GSA will calculate the benefit for which the qualifying member may be eligible and will notify the family as well as their child care facility.

The child care facility will receive a benefit package that will include the following documents:
 

• a) Provider Benefit Acceptance Letter; instructions on billing the GSA on behalf of the US Coast Guard
• b) Invoice(s) to bring the member’s account current
• c) A sample invoice along with an Invoice Schedule to be used for future billings. The child care facility will then be responsible for billing the GSA on a biweekly or monthly basis for childcare services on behalf of the member. The subsidy will be paid directly to the child care provider and the family’s bill will reflect the reduction in cost that will result from this subsidy.

If you have any questions or need any additional assistance, please feel free to contact this office.

Best regards,

U.S. Coast Guard Child Care Subsidy Team
1-866-508-0371
Fax: (816) 823-5445 or (816) 926-3642
Email: uscgchildcare@gsa.gov