We’re Here To Help.
JCC Chicago is proud to provide a variety of financial solutions for families in need. Please review the following options to find the one that best fits you.
Illinois Action for Children
Illinois Action for Children is a state-based program that has provided over $350,000 in state funding to help families in need of child care for programs such as Early Childhood, Before & After School, and Day Camp. To learn more about Illinois Action for Children, click here.
Please make sure to review the income guidelines to make sure you qualify before proceeding with the application. Income guidelines only pertain to funding through Illinois Action for Children and are separate from JCC Financial Assistance guidelines.
Application Checklist Application (Español)
What are the qualifications to receive Illinois Action for Children?
In order to qualify for Action for Children, you must meet the following requirements:
- All parents and or/adults living in the household must be working and/or in school during the time the family is requesting the care in need.
- Parents/Guardians must be Illinois Residents
- Children receiving care must be under the age of 13 (children can be up to age 18 if there is a documented special need requiring they be supervised)
- You must meet the income guidelines as listed below (please note the monthly income must be BEFORE taxes)
Family Size | Monthly Gross Income -Before Taxes |
---|---|
2 | $2,607 |
3 | $3,289 |
4 | $3,970 |
5 | $4,652 |
6 | $5,333 |
7 | $6,015 |
8 | $6,696 |
9 | $7,377 |
10 | $8,059 |
What is the process to apply for Illinois Action for Children?
You would need to complete the application found above and submit to feeassistance@jccchicago.org and include two consecutive pay check stubs within the last 30 days OR a letter from your employer on your company’s letterhead verifying your hourly wage, work schedule, with your employers’ contact information if pay check stubs cannot be provided.
Once your paperwork is received, please allow 3-5 business days to receive an email from one of our fee assistance team members to confirm if you qualify and what your estimated coverage would be.
What is the cost to apply?
There is no cost to apply for Illinois Action for Children.
How much would Action for Children cover of my child care expenses?
Depending on your income, family size, and the program registered for, you can receive anywhere from 25% to 100% off your child care costs.
JCC Chicago Fee Assistance
Fee assistance consideration is available for many programs and services to families demonstrating need. All requests for fee assistance are on a first received, first completed basis and are handled confidentially.
What is Fee Assistance?
Fee Assistance helps offset a portion of JCC program fees and is made possible through JCC Chicago and Women’s Board funding in addition to the generosity of donors. Fee Assistance is awarded on a first received, first completed basis, and is based on financial need and our available budgeting dollars for assistance. All JCC Chicago families are eligible to apply for Fee Assistance
What is the process to apply for Fee Assistance?
Step 1:
Register for the program you are inquiring financial assistance for (this is a pre-requisite to be considered for aid).
Step 2:
You will receive a confirmation email from one of our financial assistance team members with a link to apply through FAST.
Step 3:
Once your FAST application is complete, please make sure to upload your most recent tax documents including the following: federal, state, W2 for each working parent (1099 if self-employed), and 2 most recent paycheck stubs.
Step 4:
Your application normally takes 7-10 business days to be verified through FAST if you have all your documents uploaded. Once verified you will receive a confirmation email from one of our fee assistance team members confirming when your application will be reviewed by our financial assistance committee. During this time, please make your normal scheduled payments until you have been contacted about your financial assistance status.
Step 5:
Once your application has been reviewed by our committee, you will receive an e-mail letter from our financial assistance team member with your notification status and your revised payment plan if awarded. If awarded, your assistance will be applied to your account right away.
What are the deadlines for applying for Fee Assistance?
Applications are on a rolling process, based on funds and availability.
Am I still able to apply for assistance if I missed the deadline?
Yes, you can still apply after the deadline has passed. Please be aware that most of our scholarship dollars are awarded by the deadline. Applying after the deadline might decrease your chances of receiving the maximum aid you are eligible for, or you could be denied assistance based on our remaining funds.
Do I need to apply for every program I am requesting assistance for?
No. Only one Fee Assistance application should be submitted per family per JCC fiscal year (July1-June 30) and should be submitted each year. All submitted applications expire on June 30th of every year.
What factors do the Fee Assistance Committee review to determine assistance?
We first review your AGI, current income and family size to determine initial eligibility. From there we assess any outstanding assets or liabilities that impact your income and financial hardship. If there are special circumstances that we cannot see listed in your application, we encourage you to share that in the essay portion of your application.
Is my financial assistance award from the previous year guaranteed to me for the upcoming school year if all my information is the same?
While we try our best to honor an award percentage that has been granted to your family from the previous year, we cannot always guarantee that the same award will be provided. There are several factors that impact our award determination such as: number of applicants applying for assistance, remaining funds available for assistance, and the time of year you are applying for assistance.
Who should I speak to if I have any questions?
All questions relating to the Fee Assistance application process, documents needed, application status, and final determinations should be directed to feeassistance@jccchicago.org.