Families with city child care subsidies no longer pay a copay

Low-income families who get help paying for child care through the city used to owe a share of the cost themselves, set on a sliding scale by income. Starting in September 2026, the city pays that required copay for families using ACS-issued vouchers or NYC Public Schools Extended Day and Year contracted seats.

About 22,000 families benefit. Together they had been paying roughly $5.2 million a year in out-of-pocket fees. Families already receiving subsidized care don’t need to take any additional action for the fee waiver. They still must recertify their eligibility each year. A voucher provider may also charge a family the difference if its tuition exceeds the amount the city pays; that separate charge is not covered by this policy.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the change on August 13, 2026, as part of his push toward universal child care. The city committed $5.2 million a year starting in September and plans to raise the yearly amount to $6.24 million in fiscal year 2028. By removing the required fee, the policy lowers the cost of care the city already subsidizes for low-income families.