Does the Army assist with day-care expenses?

Question

I am getting married in November and my fiance is in the Army. We have 3 kids between the two of us and I was planning on working when he returns from Iraq. Is there any type of financial assistance or day-care provided by the Army?

Answer 1

Your Husband will get BAH, what you do with the money is up to you guys... If you use it towards rent, food, clothing, daycare...

Answer 2

No, they do not provide any financial assistance. They didn't ask you to have kids and they aren't going to give you money for having children.

     Every base has a CDC which provides day-care for children.  The waiting list is anywhere from several months to over a year.  What you pay is based on income.  That is military income (they count BAH even if you live on-base) and the income you make.    At our base an E-4 with a spouse that works part-time would pay about $120 a week per child for 25 hours of care per week.  I have a friend that does exactly that.

Answer 3

I'd say they won't. My husband had a soldier who was a Private with six children and the state paid for daycare for some of his children.

I assume you are collecting child support and your soon-to-be husband has some rank which is why I don't believe you will qualify for government assistance.

On-post daycare and Family Child Care Providers (FCC) charge according to rank which can be cheaper than civilian daycare depending on where you live. They also offer before and after school programs should you need these.  

Answer 4

Yes, the military will pay for childcare if your spouse has been deployed or is active duty. Go to www.naccrra.org, all the information is there, including applications to fill out, you and the childcare provider will have papers to fill out and to be signed. All the information is on this site. I hope this will help you.  

Answer 5

No, the army does not provide child care, however they do have onpost child care facilities which have comparible rates or lower than what you'd expect to pay off post.  However, be very careful and do your homework.  Some of those facilities are staffed with good reliable care providers while others have what I call a body watching your kids.  

You could also get in contact with the Family Support Group for your husband's unit.  They are a good source for information ranging from child care to finances to part time jobs.  Great support system.  

Answer 6

I know overseas E-4 and under got 10 hrs of free child care a month plus a discounted rate than upper enlisted. Check on the individual base that you are on it is probably up to each command.

Some moms also had a babysitting coop where you earned pts by watching others kids and spent them getting your kids watched, its a good free baby sitting tool.