Families receive an Award Letter for each child, which includes the child’s subsidy approval details. This letter can be used to verify a child’s eligibility, the family’s subsidy award period, and the subsidy amount. You should check the Award Letter to confirm the child’s subsidy eligibility and ensure the subsidy will cover the care costs. 

During enrollment, you will need to provide your provider license information, complete a W9 (including your EIN), and provide banking details for direct deposit. Additionally, you will need to confirm your care for specific children receiving the subsidy.

No, a child care provider may not accept both the Working Connections Subsidy and the Best Starts for Kids Child Care Subsidy for the same child. If a family is eligible for the Working Connections Subsidy, they will be asked to apply for that first.

If you need to update your information, such as changes to your business, banking information, or licensing status, please contact our provider support team via text or call at 206-339-5570, or email at providers@bskchildcare.org

The W9 is needed to provide your business with the appropriate tax documents. You must provide us with this document to get paid.

The EIN/Social Security number is needed to provide your business with the appropriate tax documents. You must provide us with this document to get paid.

If a family owes a previous provider money, they may not enroll with the Best Starts Subsidy Program without a provider verified payment plan. We also collect monthly information from all providers to ensure families are making any additional agreed upon payments toward the cost of care.

There is no copay, however providers are free to charge the difference between the subsidy amount and the tuition. We do not cover any copays for other programs.

Payments will be made through direct deposit to your bank account. You will need to provide your banking information during the enrollment process to set up direct deposit.

Payment Request Forms (PRFs) (i.e. attendance verification) are sent out around the 17th of each month. This forms requiring providers to verify the child’s enrollment. Payments are typically issued within three (3) weeks of accurately submitting the PRF. These payments may be issued in the last two weeks of the month of care or during the following month, depending on when you submit the PRFs.

You should reach out to the subsidy support line.  206-208-6865, support@bskchildcare.org

To report missed payments or any discrepancies, please contact us directly through the Reporting Missed Best Starts Subsidy Payments form.

To receive payment, you must first submit a Payment Request Form through the Provider Portal each month. This form reports each child’s attendance, care details, and other required information. Only after submitting the completed form can payments be issued. 

How to Complete the Payment Request Form

The Subsidy Payment Authorization (SPA) form outlines the subsidy agreement between the family, the provider, and Best Starts Subsidy. Before payments can be made, both the family and the provider must sign this form. The family signs in the Family Portal, and the provider signs in the Provider Portal. Both signatures must be completed within 30 days of receiving the form. 

How to View and Sign the Subsidy Payment Authorization

Providers of school-age children will be required to provide their tuition rates for these children. This information should be submitted to us when requested or as part of your monthly Payment Request Form. This will help ensure accurate payment processing based on the care you are providing. 

You can view your payment history at any time in the Provider Portal. Simply log in to your account, navigate to the “Family Subsidies & Payment History” section, and you’ll find a record of all past payments. This will include the date, amount, and payment method for each subsidy payment you’ve received. 

Payment History Instructions

Yes, you can charge families for any difference between the subsidy amount and your full rate.

Subsidy payments are for monthly tuition and won’t be increased to cover registration fees. However, if the subsidy amount exceeds tuition, providers must apply the extra money to unpaid fees or balances on the child’s account. Any remaining funds must be used within that month and do not need to be refunded to the family.

Similar to registration fees, subsidy payments are for monthly tuition and won’t be increased to cover field trip fees. However, if the subsidy amount exceeds tuition, providers must apply the extra money to unpaid fees or balances on the child’s account. Any remaining funds must be used within that month and do not need to be refunded to the family.

If a child stops attending your program you must submit the child’s final date of care on the Payment Request Form or notify us via email, text, or phone.

Families on the waitlist will be notified when funding becomes available and be invited to apply for the subsidy. Once a family has been approved, they will select their provider of choice, and you can begin the enrollment process.

Families are selected from the waitlist by lottery. The process is random and not based on the order in which families joined the waitlist. However, we may prioritize families with urgent needs or those who are most in need of the subsidy. 

Yes, if you have any questions or need help with the Best Starts Subsidy program, you can contact the Best Starts Subsidy Support Team. We are here to help clarify any questions about payments, eligibility, or other aspects of the program. Contact us at support@bskchildcare.org or (206) 208-6865. 

If you need assistance in a language other than English, we can provide language support services. Please reach out to the Best Starts Subsidy Team at support@bskchildcare.org or (206) 208-6865 (text or call) to request support in your preferred language.