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Cayuga County DSS warns child-care assistance may run out; dozens of families could lose benefits
Summary
Department of Social Services staff told legislators that higher provider payment rates and program changes have sharply increased spending; the county has paused new case openings and expects to stop recertifications, estimating 18 families affected in April and more than 30 in May unless state or budget action arrives.
The Department of Social Services told the legislature it expects to exhaust its child-care assistance allocation unless additional funding is provided or the state budget restores supplemental aid.
An agency official said the county typically receives a fixed allocation (about $2.5 million) for child-care assistance but recent state changes raised provider payment rates and expanded requirements, dramatically increasing spend. "This will be the first time that we're gonna run out of money," the official said, explaining the county stopped opening new cases in the fall and had sought a waiver to continue recertifying existing families. That waiver allowed recertifications for a time, but the county now plans to stop recertifications if the funding gap persists.
The official told legislators the most-immediately affected cohort would be 18 families in April and more than 30 in May because those months have heavier recertifications; the program serves roughly 250 families in the county overall. Staff said they have been working with the state Office of Children and Family Services and with county leadership to monitor the governor’s proposed budget, which could include aid that would change the outlook.
Department staff warned the shortfall will have concrete household effects and could also affect providers who depend on consistent subsidy payments. Officials encouraged constituents and providers to raise questions with DSS staff directly, and said the county will update the legislature if the state budget delivers additional resources.
