No. If both parents are students or employees, only one parent may submit an application for a subsidy award per household.

No. You must apply once your child is born and enrolled in child care. Please contact childcare@brown.edu at that time to see if funds are still available for a prorated award.

Child care expenses are considered eligible if they enable you and your spouse to work or actively seek employment. If your spouse is unemployed when you anticipate receiving the subsidy, you must provide an income projection for the upcoming year, assuming they are actively seeking work. This projection may be based on the previous year’s tax return or an estimated salary for your spouse’s profession. Additionally, spouses seeking employment must have legal authorization to work in the United States. If your spouse remains unemployed throughout the year and does not qualify under other exceptions, such as being disabled or a full-time student, you will not be eligible to receive subsidy funds.

To estimate your child care costs for the award year, review the expenses you incurred over the past 12 months. Adjust your estimates if you expect changes in the type or amount of care, including any rate increases or decreases, or if you plan to switch child care providers.

Awards are based on financial need, household income and the total number of applicants. Because funding is limited and the applicant pool changes, your award amount may fluctuate from year to year.

Yes. The maximum annual subsidy per household is $4,000.

Potential Subsidy Tiers (Annual)

You will be notified of your award status by email. A letter will be sent to the address you provided on your application in October or November.

You can choose one of two options during Open Enrollment:

1. Tax-Free Dependent Care FSA: Funds are deposited into your Sentinel account in January and July.
2. Taxable Check: Payments are included in your January and July paychecks (subject to standard tax withholdings).

The IRS limits total annual contributions to a Dependent Care FSA from all sources (your contributions + Brown’s subsidy) to $7,500.

If you already plan to contribute the maximum amount yourself, you should choose the Taxable Check option for the subsidy so you don't exceed the IRS limit.

You can access your funds through Sentinel Benefits using any of the following methods:

1. Sentinel's FSA Debit Card: Use your card for eligible expenses directly
2. Online Claim Submission: Log in to Sentinel’s secure website, select “File a Claim” under the "I Want To…" section on the left-hand side of the homepage, and submit your claim
3. Paper Claim Submission: Complete a paper claim form and fax it, along with receipts, to Sentinel’s secure Flexible Spending fax line at -781-213-7301

No, the subsidy cannot be paid directly to your child care provider. All awards are issued directly to University employees.

If you receive the subsidy as a direct check, taxes will be withheld and the amount will be reported on your W-2. However, if you elect the Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) option, the subsidy is not considered taxable income. 

For specific tax questions, please consult your financial advisor.

• Dependent Care FSA: Any remaining funds are typically forfeited upon termination of employment
• Taxable Check: If you receive a check for care you did not end up using, the balance must be repaid to Brown University