Full-time, benefits-eligible employees who would like to receive the university's child care voucher or scholarship in 2026 must apply during the annual benefits enrollment period, Oct. 15 to 31. After the Oct. 31 deadline, applications for 2026 funds will be accepted only for those employees who have a qualifying life event, such as a birth, adoption, or marriage.
Image caption: JHU benefits programs support individuals in each phase of their life.
Child care vouchers offer tax-free funds to help pay for any type of child care for pre-kindergarten children under age 6, whether you send your child to a day care center or to an in-home day care. Child care scholarships are taxable awards that can be used when your child enrolls at a JHU Partner Center. Scholarships can be used in addition to vouchers.
What's new for child care vouchers and scholarships in 2026?
Starting Jan. 1, the adjusted gross income tiers will increase, allowing more families to qualify for assistance in 2026. The AGI tiers will be as follows:
| One pre-K child under age 6 | Two pre-K children under age 6 | Two pre-K children under age 6 | Voucher (tax-free, per family) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Family adjusted gross income (AGI) | Annual voucher award | ||
| ≤ $64,300 | ≤ $74,300 | ≤ $84,300 | $5,000 |
| $64,301–$96,450 | $74,301–$106,450 | $84,301–$116,450 | $2,500 |
| $96,451–$128,600 | $106,451–$138,600 | $116,451–$148,600 | $1,000 |
| For each additional child under the age of 6, the income caps rise $10,000. | |||
The child care scholarship awards have been incrementally increased to help subsidize the cost of tuition at one of the four JHU Partner Centers: The Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center Child Care Center, the Homewood Early Learning Center, Bright Horizons at 98 N. Broadway, and the Weinberg Early Childhood Center. If you are interested in enrolling your child at any of these centers, contact them directly.
Tax-free dependent care allowance increase
The Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account maximum contribution is increasing to $7,500 for 2026 (up to $3,750 if married and filing separate federal tax returns). The DCFSA allows you to use pretax dollars to pay for things such as after-school care, summer day camp, backup and emergency care, elder care, adult day care, and more. Since your combination of child care voucher, DCFSA, and backup care all count toward the $7,500 annual tax-free maximum allowance, plan your contribution accordingly.
During Annual Enrollment, make sure to elect the voucher and scholarship to ensure you receive funding in 2026. Postdoctoral fellows, doctoral and medical students, residents, and house staff who are full-time and benefits-eligible are required to apply for these child care programs in November if they would like to receive funds in 2026.
To learn more about child care programs, including eligibility criteria, visit the Child Care webpage or email your questions to childcare@jhu.edu.
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