As you may have seen in yesterday’s email from NYU Work Life, the new Family Care Fund is now open for applications, in accordance with Article 11 of our collective bargaining agreement. The application period will close on September 11, 2026.
This fund replaces and significantly expands upon the previous childcare subsidy, which was limited to children under age 3. The new program covers children under 13 as of January 2027, and also includes eligible adult care expenses, making the benefit available to many more member caregivers. As in the past, this benefit is managed through a NYU Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA).
Click here to apply for your Family Care subsidy.To learn more:
- read the program summary
- review a list of eligible DCFSA expenses
- and find answers to frequently asked questions.
The application currently requires a 2025 household tax return as documentation of financial need. If you do not have the requested documentation, or have questions, please apply by contacting family-care-program@nyu.edu. Depending on the circumstances, a self-attestation may be available as an alternative. Applications will be reviewed through a joint Family Care Committee, which includes representatives of the Union and the NYU Benefits Office.
We fought the inclusion of this documentation requirement, but the administration insisted. We continue to believe that tax returns are not an appropriate measure of childcare needs and that expected childcare and dependent-care expenses are a much more meaningful and accurate measure. We plan to reopen this conversation next year with data from the first application cycle; we will continue to push for a less invasive and more appropriate process.
We strongly encourage all eligible members to apply. Your participation this year will give us important information about how the program is working, what barriers remain, and what changes we should fight for in the next application cycle.
In solidarity,
Benedetta Piantella, CFU Unit Rep
Elisabeth Fay, CFU Interim Unit Chair