SC’s social services agency to give more money to child care providers

State reimbursement rates for child care providers were recently increased to help families balancing work and child care, the South Carolina Department of Social Services said.

The state pays a reimbursement rate directly to child care providers on behalf of families enrolled in the agency’s voucher program, and meets income and work or education requirements.

The rate increase reduces the amount of money families have to pay for tuition expenses and provides further financial support to child care providers recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency said.

For programs with the state’s highest quality rating, the maximum weekly urban payment for full-time children ages 0-2 was $205. Now, the maximum payment for a full-time child under 1 is $296. For ages 1 and 2, the new rate is $284, the agency said.

“This change makes sure provider rates are more closely aligned for what they are charging for the age of the child,” said Michael Leach, social services director. “In the end, that helps both working families who are continuing to navigate through the pandemic and the child care facilities that provide quality care for those parents.”