Good News—Trainees Can Receive Childcare Support

Full-time predoctoral and postdoctoral institutional National Research Service Award (NRSA)-appointed trainees with children can now receive $2,500 per budget period for childcare costs provided by a licensed childcare provider, effective as of fiscal year (FY) 2022. For households in which both parents are eligible full-time predoctoral or postdoctoral NRSA trainees, each parent is eligible to receive $2,500.

NIH allows childcare costs for dependent children living in the eligible full-time appointed predoctoral or postdoctoral NRSA trainee’s home from birth until the age of 13 or, for children who are disabled, until age 18.

Note the following:

• The institutional training grant programs that support full-time pre- and post-doctoral trainees under the NRSA authority are the T32, TL1, TU2 and T90. Note that NIAID supports only T32s.
• NIH will provide an annual $2,500 per each full-time predoctoral or postdoctoral NRSA trainee appointment slot at the time the new, renewal, or continuation award is made.
  • This means that principal investigators do not need to take any action to request funds; however, they must report using childcare costs in their Research Performance Progress Report.
• Childcare costs do not apply to elder or non-child dependent care costs.
• Recipients must maintain all supporting documentation (e.g., proof the childcare provider is licensed) and make it available to NIH officials upon request. Applicants and awardees will not submit the supporting documentation unless specifically requested by NIH staff.
• NIH will not provide childcare support for short-term predoctoral or postdoctoral NRSA trainees regardless of the activity code.
• If the NRSA training award is already active, NIH anticipates beginning to award the additional $2,500 in childcare costs per trainee slot at the time of the next continuation award starting in FY 2022.

As a reminder, NIH already supports childcare costs for recipients of individual NRSA fellowship awards. See the March 15, 2021 Guide notice for more details.

Find Details, Contact Information

For complete details, see the September 23, 2021 Guide notice. Go to Section II. NRSA Institutional Research Training Awards of NIH’s Frequently Asked Questions—Childcare Costs to find answers to questions such as:

• What expenses and provider types are permitted using the childcare costs? 
• Are childcare costs part of the trainee stipends, fees, or training-related expenses? 
• What happens when a child ages-out mid-budget period?
• How does the institution request the childcare costs?
• Are there additional reporting requirements for childcare costs on continuation applications?

If you have additional inquiries, contact Dr. Roya Kalantari in our Office of Research Training and Special Programs at aitraininghelpdesk@niaid.nih.gov.