Texas Workforce Commission has a Sweet Deal for Working Families

Lots of Central Texans are heading back to work, and just about every business you drive by is hiring. Working and earning some income while kids are back school is the ideal plan for most, but a number of families with younger kids can't work because of the cost of childcare. According to KCEN, Texas Workforce Commission has a new plan that can help.

Childcare Cost How Much?

Those having to pay the costs of childcare know it cost a small fortune. Many working families choose to just have one person of the household work while the other stays home to raise the kids. It can be cost effective if you are raising multiple children. Care.com released the results of their 2021 Cost of Care Survey in June and it shows that 85% of parents are spending 10% or more of their household income on child care. That number is up from 72% in 2020.

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57% of of families spent over $10,000 on child care in 2020. 59% of those families are expecting to spend even more than $10,000 in 2021.

Is Mrs. Doubtfire Available?

Daycare or nanny? The cost for a nanny use to be much more expensive than the cost of a family care center but those numbers are starting to get closer. Much closer than you might think. The survey shows that there is only a $14 a week difference now between the cost of having two kids in day care versus hiring a nanny for them.

What Other Options are Available?

Texas Workforce Commission can also be a new resource for individuals or families that need help with childcare. TWC has started a new program called the Service Industry Recovery. SIR provides free childcare for 12 months and all it takes to qualify is at least one parent must work in an approved TWC-specified service industry.

What is a TWC-Specified Service Industry?

There are plenty of options that fall under the TWC-specified service industry. Retail, food service, art, recreation and entertainment just to name a few. There is a large number of food service jobs available.

Like all good things, this program will only last for a limited time. You can find out all the details by visiting the the Service Industry Relief Fund's website.

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