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Program Eligibility and Guidelines

Couple holding their kids on their laps and laughing together

The Child Care Subsidy Grant Program (CCSG) provides grants to eligible, university employees to assist with meeting the cost of child care.

Below is a summary of the CCSG Program Guidelines. For details, download the 2022 CCSG Program Guidelines.

Applicant

 

To be eligible for the CCSG, you:

  • Are a university employee in a benefit-eligible position based in the United States
  • Work at least 50% time, and have an appointment of at least six months (or four months for bargaining unit employees)

(NOTE: Undergraduates, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and Stanford Hospitals & Clinics employees are not eligible for this program.)

Your 

Household

If you share a household with the parent of your child(ren), they are considered your co-applicant and must meet one of the requirements listed here.  You will need to provide their financial documents in order to be considered for assistance.

If you are married, have a registered domestic partner, or share a household with the parent of your child(ren), they must be:

  • Employed at least 50% FTE, or
  • A full-time student, or
  • Disabled, per the IRS definition

    • (NOTE: If your spouse or partner is able to work but is currently unemployed, please submit an application when they obtain employment. If that occurs after the current application period, please refer to the Application Period Calendar shown above to confirm the next available application period.)

Your Child(ren) Must Be…
  • Your legal dependent(s) as shown on your 2020/2021 Tax Form 1040, or listed as a “qualified person(s)” per your 2020/2021 Tax Form 2441
  • Under 13 years old when care is provided. Have a birth date on or after January 1, 2010.
  • Please Note: “Qualified Persons“ includes foster or adopted children, per IRS Publication 17.

Your Income 

You must have a household income of $200,000 or less per year.

You must prove your financial need by submitting appropriate tax and wage documentation. This includes a copy of your 2019/2020 tax return(s) and current paystubs. The household income calculation is based on all of the financial documents that are submitted with each application, not the Adjusted Gross Income reported on your 1040. 

The following chart shows how the grant awards are calculated based upon a projection of your household income and the age(s) of the child(ren) in question.

Household Income

Tax-Free Grant Amount

for Child Age 0-13

Taxable Grant Amount

for Child Age 0-13

$0–$124,999

$5,000* ($208.33/period)

$5,000

$125,000–$174,999

$3,500* ($145.83/period)

$3,500

$175,000–$200,000

$2,000* ($83.33/period)

$2,000

Sibling Grant

After the age of the youngest child in the home is confirmed, the sibling grants of $1,000 are applied once and represent all siblings in the home

 $1,000* ($41.67/period)

The maximum total annual grant amount cannot exceed the application period limit, regardless of sibling award or special needs.

*The 6-month mid-year grant Award is pro-rated to 50% of the full-year award and does not include the Tax-Free Grant. The maximum mid-year grant is $2,500 taxed.

View CCSG Award examples