R 161842Z OCT 12 ALCOAST 461/12 COMDTNOTE 1750 SUBJ: FY2013 CHILD CARE SUBSIDY PROGRAM A. COMDT COGARD Washington DC 101920Z FEB 12/ALCOAST 065/12 1. In FY13, the Coast Guard will maintain FY12 child care subsidy levels outlined in reference (A), while expanding sudsidies for total family incomes (TFI) greater than 100,000 dollars. Eligible recipients are active duty service members and reserve members (on active duty orders for 180 consecutive days or longer) with children up to 12 years old enrolled in privately-owned child care programs. While our primary focus remains on providing additional assistance to members with lower TFI, the child care subsidy program is contingent on availability of funds and enrollment will be closed when the program reaches its funding ceiling. 2. Beginning 1 January 2013 and continuing through 30 September 2013, the TFI eligibility threshold (currently 100,000 dollars per year) will be eliminated and the subsidy program will be available to all active duty members. Applications will be accepted for all TFI income categories. The CG will adopt the new Department of Defense (DoD) TFI categories for FY13, listed below in paragraph 7, effective 1 January 2013. 3. To qualify for a child care subsidy, either a single active duty parent or an active duty parent and spouse must be employed full time, or the spouse of the CG member must work at least 20 hours per week, or be a full-time student. Verification procedures include the submission of a subsidy application, copy of ID or active duty orders, a copy of the most current federal tax return, a copy of the most recent leave and earning statement (LES), a copy of spouses pay statement and/or student school schedule, provider application and a copy of the child care center/provider license. See paragraph 10 below for information on how to apply. 4. There is a ninety-day exception for families where the spouse is pursuing employment or school enrollment, however, the request for an exception to the policy must be submitted by the family along with the application to Government Service Administration (GSA) in order to qualify. 5. Active duty members enrolling children into DoD child care centers are not eligible for the child care subsidy program. Subsidies are provided directly to the DoD annually to offset the cost of DoD fees for all CG children enrolled in DoD centers. 6. The amount of child care subsidy provided to members will depend on TFI. Each subsidy will be paid directly to the child care provider on behalf of the CG member. The amount of subsidy will be limited to the difference between the actual tuition rate and an out-of-pocket rate comparable to those established by the DoD at its child development centers (CDC) for FY 2013. 7. The average out of pocket tuition cost in each TFI category for CG members will be as follows: a. 0 - 29,865 58 dollars per week b. 29,866 - 36,264 73 dollars per week c. 6,265 - 46,930 89 dollars per week d. 46,931 - 58,662 103 dollars per week e. 58,663 - 74,661 119 dollars per week f. 74,662 - 86,343 130 dollars per week g. 86,344 - 101,580 134 dollars per week h. 101,581 -126,975 137 dollars per week i. 126,976 or more 140 dollars per week 8. Under the new TFI categories, the amount of maximum subsidy for each income category will be as follows: TFI Category 1st Child 2nd Child 3rd Child a. 0 - 29,865 dollars 7800 dollars 6800 dollars 6800 dollars b. 29,866 - 36,264 6630 5630 5630 c. 36,265 - 46,930 5320 4320 4320 d. 46,931 - 58,662 4800 3800 3800 e. 58,663 - 74,661 4020 3020 3020 f. 74,662 - 86,343 3240 2240 2240 g. 86,344 - 101,580 2560 1560 1560 h. 101,581 - 126,975 1680 680 680 i. 126,976 and more 900 0 0 9. All families currently participating in the child care subsidy program will be notified by GSA in the months of November and December 2012 of any subsidy adjustment to align with the new TFI categories and subsidy amounts. 10. For enrollment forms and more information regarding the child care subsidy program, please go to www.gsa.gov/portal/content/102063 (must be typed in lower case), or contact Ms. Judy Gonzales at 1-866-508-0371 or by email at uscoastguardchildcare(AT)gsa.gov. 11. Commanding officers and officers in charge are encouraged to disseminate this information to all unit families through their ombudsman and other local means available. 12. The CG POC for this matter is Mr. Ken OMeara, Child Development Services Specialist, at 202-475-5160, or email: Kenneth.R.OMeara(AT)uscg.mil. You may also contact the Health, Safety, and Work-Life Service Center (HSCL SC) POC Ms. Linda Smith at 757-628-4777 or email: Linda.L.Smith(AT)uscg.mil. 13. CAPT Joel L. Rebholz, Acting Director of Health, Safety and Work-Life, sends. 14. Internet release authorized.