Delaware Child Care Bonus Frequently Asked Questions

The work you do is hard, important, and it matters. We want to take a minute to thank you for your patience, kindness, and dedication to young children and their families.

What is the Delaware Child Care Bonus Program?

The Delaware Child Care Bonus Program provides financial recognition awards directly to early childhood care and education professionals who have been working with children or providing on-site administrative support at any level in licensed Delaware child care settings. This is a bonus paid directly to an employed person. It is taxable income for 2023.

This bonus is designed to acknowledge individuals who are currently caring for young children and have also done so during the pandemic. Delaware is funding this program through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

Who is eligible for the bonus?

You can be eligible for the second round of bonus payments even if you did not receive the first round of the Child Care Bonus Program. On-site administrators and administrative staff are now eligible for the Round 2 Bonus of $700.

You may be eligible for an award of $700 if you currently:

Work directly with children in a licensed family child care home, large family child care home, early care and education or school-age center in Delaware listed on the OCCL website at https://education.delaware.gov/families/occl/child_care_search/

OR
Provide any level of on-site administrative support in an early care and education or school-age center in Delaware listed on the OCCL website at https://education.delaware.gov/families/occl/child_care_search/
AND
Are currently employed for at least 20 hours per week;
Have been working at least 90 days in one or more of the above listed licensed programs at the time of application within the last 6 months; and
Are at least 18 years of age or older.

If you are eligible for the Bonus, an email will be sent to the primary email address you provided in your My Early Childhood Career Journey with an invitation to the My Delaware Child Care Bonus Application.

*All submissions are processed in the order they are received.

How do I apply ...

if I already have a profile in the Professional Portal from Round 1?

Open a browser window and type https://portal.delawareece.com to get to the homepage of the Professional Portal.

Step 1: Your previous profile information will already be populated. Update and add new information to your My Early Childhood Career Journey profile. After completion, you will receive your personalized link to the Delaware Child Care Bonus application.

Step 2: Your information will already be populated in the Delaware Child Care Bonus application. Update the online Delaware Child Care Bonus application and provide any additional or different documentation to show you meet the criteria.

This includes a valid form of identification, two (2) pay stubs that show you are currently employed and have been working for at least three months in licensed child care facilities.

Once your information is verified and approved, you will receive $700 via direct deposit or mailed check (your choice). Only one award will be paid to any individual.

For more information, visit the Delaware Child Care Bonus Application Professional Guide.

if I don’t have a profile in the Professional Portal from Round 1?

Open a browser window and type https://portal.delawareece.com to get to the homepage of the Professional Portal to create your personal account.

Step 1: Complete your My Early Childhood Career Journey profile. After completion, you will receive your personalized link to the Delaware Child Care Bonus application.

Step 2:

Complete the online Delaware Child Care Bonus application and provide the necessary documentation to show you meet the criteria.

This includes a valid form of identification, two (2) pay stubs that show you have been working for at least three months in licensed child care facilities, a signed and completed W-9 form, and, if choosing Direct Deposit, a voided check or Direct Deposit Authorization form.

Once your information is verified and approved, you will receive $700 via Direct Deposit or mailed check (your choice).

For more information, visit the Delaware Child Care Bonus Application Professional Guide.

What documentation do I need for my application ...

if I didn’t apply in Round 1?

Documentation is required to verify your identity and employer. This documentation must be uploaded in your application to process this bonus as quickly as possible.

During any future audit, if records are not available and or your information is found to be inaccurate, you may be required to make full reimbursement for the amount of your bonus.

You will need to upload each of the following:

Your last two (2) pay stubs for the last month or your last two (2) time cards signed by your employer to verify that you currently work directly with children in an OCCL licensed family child care home, large family child care home, early care and education or school-age center in Delaware and have been working for at least 90 days within the last 6 months.
*NOTE – If you are currently the owner or employee of a license family child care home or large family child care home and you do not have pay stubs or time cards, you can upload Purchase of Care (POC) documentation, or CACFP payment confirmation, or a copy of your Child Care License issued by OCCL to show that you have been open and directly serving children.

A valid state-issued Driver’s License or state-issued photo ID card that shows the same address you entered in the Career Journey.
If you select Direct Deposit as your preferred payment type, a voided check or Direct Deposit Authorization form. (A voided check is a blank check from your account that has the word “VOID” written across the face of the check. A Direct Deposit Authorization form can be requested from your bank).
A signed and completed W-9 form. (W-9 forms can be found on the IRS’s website at https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw9.pdf).

Your social security number (if you file taxes as an individual) or your Employer Identification (EIN) if you own your licensed child care center or family child care home.

if I did apply in Round 1?

During any future audit, if records are not available and or your information is found to be inaccurate, you may be required to make full reimbursement for the amount of your bonus.

You will need to upload the following:

Your last two (2) pay stubs for the last month or your last two (2) time cards signed by your employer to verify that you currently work directly with children in an OCCL licensed family child care home, large family child care home, early care and education or school-age center in Delaware and have been working for at least 90 days within the last 6 months.
*NOTE – If you are currently the owner or employee of a license family child care home or large family child care home and you do not have pay stubs or time cards, you can upload Purchase of Care (POC) documentation, or CACFP payment confirmation, or a copy of your Child Care License issued by OCCL to show that you have been open and directly serving children.

Your previously uploaded documentation will be in your application. You will need to verify and update each of the following, if applicable:

Confirm that the driver’s license or state issued photo ID previously submitted is still valid shows the same address you entered in your Professional Portal Profile
Confirm that the signed and completed W-9 form is still accurate. If you need to update a previous form submitted or submitting a new form, W-9 forms can be found on the IRS’s website at https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw9.pdf
Confirm your social security number (if you file taxes as an individual) or your Employer Identification Number (EIN) if you own your licensed child care center or family child care
Confirm how you wish to receive this Bonus Payment if authorized. Confirm the voided check or Direct Deposit Authorization form is still accurate. (A voided check is a blank check from your account that has the word “VOID” written across the face of the check. A Direct Deposit Authorization form can be requested from your bank.)

How do I upload documentation?

Clear, readable versions of documentation is required to confirm identity and employment. Please scan or take a picture of all materials and upload from a phone or computer. Documentation must match all information provided in the application process.

What if I have moved programs recently?

The bonus is paid after confirming that you have been working at least 90 days in an eligible Delaware licensed program or programs. You must also be currently employed at the time of your application. You can have worked at different facilities for a combined total of 90 days within the last 6 months and must be currently employed at a licensed facility at the time of application. When you have been employed at licensed program(s) for 90 days total, you meet the above eligibility criteria.

How long do I have to complete the application?

The last day to start your application is May 15, 2023. Once you start your application, you have 10 business days to complete, which includes your upload of all the required documentation. If your application is still incomplete after 10 business days, your application will close and you will need to re-open your application to reapply if the application process is still open.

Can I apply if I work less than 20 hours?

If you work at least 10 hours a week, you are now eligible to apply for the Delaware Child Care Bonus. We need to confirm that you are currently working in a licensed large family child care home or early care and education or school-age center in Delaware listed on the OCCL website at: https://education.delaware.gov/families/occl/child_care_search

And

Work at least 10 hours per week;
Have been employed for at least 6 months in one or more of the listed licensed programs at the time of application; and
Are at least 18 years of age or older.

To show that you currently meet the above criteria, complete the online Delaware Child Care Bonus application (Steps 1 and 2) and provide the necessary documentation to show you meet the criteria.

This includes a valid form of identification, two (2) pay stubs that show you have been working for at least six months in licensed child care facilities, a signed and completed W-9 form, and, if choosing Direct Deposit, a voided check or Direct Deposit Authorization form.

Once your information is verified and approved, you will receive $700 via Direct Deposit or a mailed check (your choice).

For additional support, the Child Care Bonus Help Desk is available Monday through Friday, 7am to 7pm to answer your questions. Email delawareece@welsfoundation.org or call (302) 549-4212 for Help Desk support.