Child Care Fee Assistance for Military Families

What you get

Child care for military families: child development centers on the installation, Family Child Care homes, school-age care, and fee assistance toward licensed community care when installation care is not available. It is a War Department (Defense Department) program, not a VA benefit.

Who military child care serves

1. 1A military or War Department civilian familyMilitary OneSource lists U.S. military and War Department civilian families for MCCYN fee assistance and points to MilitaryChildCare.com for the detailed rules. For Guard and reserve members activated on Title 10 or Title 32 orders for more than 30 consecutive days, Military OneSource lists fee assistance for community care among the support available.
2. 2No installation care, for fee assistanceFee assistance is for military families who cannot get installation child care. It is paid to approved community providers. MCCYN providers must be licensed, inspected every year, and meet War Department quality standards; MCCYN-PLUS also takes providers in state quality improvement programs. The amount depends on total family income and does not cover the whole cost.

Source: Military OneSource: military childcare guide (opens in new tab); Military OneSource: more affordable child care options (opens in new tab); Military OneSource: Guard and reserve childcare support (opens in new tab); Military OneSource: finding licensed, affordable childcare (opens in new tab)

Where is your family now?

• Serving families and War Department civilians

  Military OneSource describes child development centers for infants through age 5, Family Child Care homes for children up to age 12, and school-age care for ages 6 to 12. When installation care is not available or accessible, fee assistance through Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood (MCCYN) and MCCYN-PLUS helps pay a licensed community provider.

  Source: Military OneSource: military childcare guide (opens in new tab); Military OneSource: more affordable child care options (opens in new tab); Military OneSource: childcare programs (opens in new tab)

• Recently separated, retired, or a survivor

  Military OneSource describes military child care for service members and their families. After service ends, the door it names is the free hourly child care search for military families living in the U.S., open to anyone Military OneSource serves. That list includes retired and honorably discharged members and their immediate family until 365 days after the end of service; medically discharged members in a wounded warrior program, with their families, and caregivers of wounded warriors; and survivors of a service member who died.

  1. 1Someone Military OneSource servesRetired members and honorably discharged members, with their immediate family, until 365 days after the end of service, retirement, or discharge. Medically discharged members, with their immediate family, while enrolled in their service branch program for wounded, seriously ill, or injured warriors, and caregivers of wounded warriors. Surviving spouses who have not remarried, and surviving children, of an active duty, Guard, Coast Guard, or reserve member who died.

  Source: Military OneSource: expanded hourly child care questions (opens in new tab); Military OneSource: who can use its services (opens in new tab); Military OneSource: childcare programs (opens in new tab)

What to gather, and what it shows VA

Requests for care go through MilitaryChildCare.com or your installation, not BeneVets. BeneVets does not ask for your family records.

Steps, in order

1. Request care on MilitaryChildCare.com

   Search for and request installation or military-approved community care on MilitaryChildCare.com. Start as early as you can, including during pregnancy or adoption, and as soon as you get PCS orders.

   Source: Military OneSource: finding licensed, affordable childcare (opens in new tab); Military OneSource: military childcare guide (opens in new tab)

2. Ask about fee assistance if the installation has no space

   If installation care is not available or accessible, look at MCCYN and MCCYN-PLUS fee assistance for a licensed community provider. Families find and pick approved providers through MilitaryChildCare.com.

   Source: Military OneSource: more affordable child care options (opens in new tab); Military OneSource: finding licensed, affordable childcare (opens in new tab)

3. Guard and reserve: check drill weekend care

   Ask about fee assistance if you are on orders for more than 30 consecutive days, and about your service program for drill weekends: the Navy Reserve Force Weekend Drill Child Care Program, the Army Weekend Drill Child Care program in some states, or the Air Force Home Community Care program.

   Source: Military OneSource: Guard and reserve childcare support (opens in new tab)

4. Use the hourly care search

   Check that Military OneSource serves your family, then log in to your Military OneSource account, or create one, to get the one-time code that registers you for the free hourly care search. It is for military families living in the U.S. You arrange pay directly with the caregiver.

   Source: Military OneSource: military childcare guide (opens in new tab); Military OneSource: expanded hourly child care questions (opens in new tab); Military OneSource: who can use its services (opens in new tab)

5. Call Military OneSource with questions

   Military OneSource consultants are available 24/7/365 at 800-342-9647 and can give options based on your family child care needs.

   Source: Military OneSource: expanded hourly child care questions (opens in new tab); Military OneSource: finding licensed, affordable childcare (opens in new tab)

6. Free help with VA benefits

   Military child care is not a VA claim. Military OneSource points veterans who are past the 365 days to VA for benefits and services. For a VA claim, an accredited VSO helps at no cost. Free help: an accredited VSO can file this with you. Find one near you in the BeneVets VSO directory at Find an accredited VSO near you.

   Source: VA.gov: accredited representatives (opens in new tab); Military OneSource: who can use its services (opens in new tab)

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