Lehigh Times

Working families with children could be eligible for a child care tax credit program that puts hundreds of dollars back into the wallets of Pennsylvania residents.

Gov. Tom Wolf (D-PA) and Meg Snead, acting secretary of the Department of Human Services (DHS), recently appeared at Kiddie Space Heights, according to a news release from the governor's office. They highlighted the $25 million Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Program, which is expected to benefit at least 221,000 families. Working families making more than $43,000 could be eligible for $180 for one child or $360 for two or more children. Families that make less than $43,000 could be eligible for $315 for one child or $630 for two or more children.

"Pennsylvania's hard-working families deserve the chance to succeed," Wolf said in the news release. "That's why I created this child care tax credit program. With some money back in their pockets, they can work or go back to school while ensuring their children are thriving at a quality child care center."

This state-level program is modeled after the federal Child and Dependent Care Credit program. People who qualify at the federal level also qualify at the state level. "The state child care tax credit is for 30% of the federally approved expense," the news release noted.

"High-quality early education programs help build a foundation for children's learning and development, and for parents, knowing that they can afford high-quality, reliable care for their children while they are working is immeasurable," Snead said. "This tax credit will help ease the affordability burden on lower-income working families, and we must do everything we can to continue supporting parents and children in the commonwealth so they can continue to benefit from the incredible, life-shaping work our child care industry does every day."

The Wolf administration worked to support the Pennsylvania child care industry in a number of ways for the past eight years, according to the news release. Wolf increased Pre-K Counts enrollment by 18,100 slots and increased funding by $205 million – an increase of 211%.

Wolf also increased the Head Start Supplemental enrollment by 3,400 slots and increased funding by $49 million, or 125%; increased Child Care Works enrollment to 120,000 in the 2022 to 2023 school year and increased funding from $744 million to more than $1.25 billion; and issued more than $1.5 billion in federal COVID relief funding.