CCRF provides eligible employees and students reimbursement for unanticipated expenses such as distance learning, school age care, other incremental childcare expenses, elder care, educational support and technology expenses incurred as a direct result of COVID-19. CCRF was created to respond to increased financial costs employees and students may incur given school closures, incremental child care and elder care expenses.  CCRF has a monthly maximum based on the eligible person’s salary level, as detailed below.

Eligible expenses related to school closures – including remote learning, educational or tutoring support, non-routine child care – and elder care must all be incurred on or after 9/1/2020.  Computer and technology expenses must be incurred on or after 7/1/2020 and are subject to a cap.

All funds will be distributed in the form of a reimbursement, with valid documentation of the expense required and validated by the university’s third party vendor, Discovery Benefits prior to reimbursement.  So long as COVID-19 is a federally declared national disaster, reimbursement through CCRF will be tax-free under applicable tax law.  Please note that the tax free treatment of these reimbursements is a temporary and limited benefit only, directly tied to the national state of emergency due to COVID-19. When the President lifts the national state of emergency, this fund may close.

All claims, submitted expenses and reimbursements are subject to audit by JHU. If you receive a reimbursement in error, for reasons including, but not limited to, reimbursement of ineligible expenses or improper documentation, then it is your obligation to promptly repay any such monies, after notification by the university. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.

Applications will open on October 1st. Check back for more details.

Who is eligible to use the CCRF? 

• Full time benefits eligible JHU employees, doctoral students, postdoctoral fellows, medical students, house staff, residents, interns and trainees with salary level up to $175,000.
• Funds are available per-eligible person. If you are in a household with two JHU affiliates, both Hopkins adults can submit for reimbursement up to the maximum monthly amount not to exceed 100% of the cost of care.
• Only qualifying and substantiated expenses that are a direct result of COVID-19 will be reimbursed under the CCRF. A list of eligible expenses is provided below.

The maximum amount available per eligible person is capped at $800, $600 or $400 per month depending on salary level.

There will be a separate technology maximum for all eligible employees and students. Technology expenses will be capped at a maximum of $1,000 and will date back to 7/1/2020.

Eligible Expenses

In order to be eligible, all expenses must be:

1. Related to caregiving or educational needs of a dependent child or adult immediate family member;
2. Incurred as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic;
3. Incurred on or after 9/1/2020 (with the exception of computer and technology expenses which are eligible from 7/1/2020); and
4. Validated by documentation of the expenses incurred.

Eligible Expenses Include:

• Incremental child care costs for dependent, school-age children during remote learning provided such costs are not reimbursable via the Dependent Care Plan or other programs.
• Incremental child care costs for dependent children incurred as a result of regular care interruptions due to COVID-19 provided such costs are not reimbursable via the Dependent Care Plan or other programs.
• Costs incurred to support remote learning (e.g. virtual or in-person tutoring, homework supervision, eLearning coaches).
• Educational or special needs services provided to dependent children to supplement services provided in a virtual school setting, for example, occupational or speech therapy.
• Incremental eldercare costs for immediate family members (parents, in-laws, grandparent, spouse or adult child). For example,  household services usually provided by a family member or adult day center, or that are newly required due to COVID-19.
• Incremental WiFi costs and bandwidth boosters purchased on or after July 1, 2020 to support remote learning for a dependent child.
• Computers or other technology related equipment for use by a dependent child during remote learning for Kindergarten – 12^th grade (e.g., a laptop, microphone, camera, noise-cancelling headphones). This category will be limited to a maximum benefit of $1,000/participant with expenses incurred on or after July 1, 2020.

Non-Eligible Expenses

• Expenses not incurred as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic
• Expenses reimbursed through insurance, a dependent care flexible spending account, JHU Child Care Voucher, or otherwise
• Expenses incurred prior to 9/1/2020 unless technology related
• Technology expenses incurred prior to 7/1/2020
• Expenses that are not reasonable and necessary
• In-home child care provided by an immediate family member
• Regular child care arrangements or enrichments already in place prior to COVID-19
• Private school tuition
• Test prep classes
• Cost of holding empty slots in a child care center if you are not actively attending
• Transportation
• Recreation or sports lessons
• Computer or tech supplies for adults or non-dependents
• Desk and chairs
• Doordash, GrubHub or other meal delivery services
• Non-essential, luxury or decorative items or services
• Undocumented expenses and other expenses not permitted under the law
• Any expense that is not incremental and was an expense the employee was already incurring or would have incurred regardless of the pandemic

How to apply

Applications will open on October 1st. Check back for more details. To begin the application process, please log into the Benefits portal by clicking on the myChoices Health and Life Enrollment, and then “View My Benefits” from the Benefits and Worklife website. If you are eligible, you will see a link to the application on your home page.

You will be required to supply dependent verification. Information on acceptable documents can be found here.

What age qualifies as a dependent? Children up to age 18 or 26 for disabled dependents. Click here to learn more about eligible dependents and required documentation.

Students – Check back for the application link.

For more information visit the Family & Caregiving Programs page and the HR Coronavirus Information page.

Frequently Asked Questions

My spouse is also at Hopkins. Can we both submit receipts?

Yes, you are both eligible for the monthly award based on your salary tier up to the total cost of care.

Can I submit the receipt for a taxi or Uber?

No.

Can I submit receipts for medical expenses?

No. However, employees making up to $50,000 can apply for other types of support through the COVID-19 Disaster Relief Fund.