Application
Where can applicants for the Child Care Subsidy Program apply?
Families may apply online or in person at DHS, a Level ll child care provider, or at the Virginia Williams Family Resource Center.
What are the age requirements for a child to qualify for the DC Child Care Subsidy Program?
A child shall be younger than 13 years of age, or younger than
19 years of age if the child has special needs.
What are the income and asset requirements for a family to qualify for the DC Child Care Subsidy Program?
Unless exempt from income requirements, a child must reside with a family whose:
How long is the minimum eligibility period?
12 months.
What are the responsibilities of an eligibility worker during the child care subsidy application process? Name at least 3 responsibilities.
•Review documents;
•Explain rights and responsibilities to families;
•Explain final determination; and
•Enter data in the Subsidy Eligibility and Assignment (SEA) system.
What are the two need categories?
1. Children who reside with a parent(s) or guardian(s) who are working, attending a job training or education program, or are seeking employment.
2. Children who receive, or need to receive protective services or are considered to be a vulnerable child.
What types of income are exempt from being calculated to determine annual income or assess the co-payment for the DC Child Care Subsidy Program? Name 2.
Exempt income includes, but is not limited to:
How long can a family continue to receive subsidized care if their income exceeds 85 percent of the current SMI at redetermination?
Up to 90 calendar days, or, if the gross annual family income is again at or below 85 percent of the current SMI, until the next scheduled redetermination.
Are supporting documents required to be original copies?
No, documentation may be original or legible copies, including electronic copies.
Citizenship and immigration status requirements do not apply to children enrolled in which two programs?
QIN or PKEEP.
Are co-payments allowed to change during the eligibility period?
Co-payments may not be increased during an eligibility period. However, a co-payment may be decreased during the eligibility period due to a change in qualifying activity, loss of employment, decrease in income, or increase in family size.
What happens to the eligibility period of existing children receiving subsidies when a family adds a new child to their case?
The redetermination date for the child(ren) already receiving subsidies will be extended so that all children in the family have the same redetermination date and all children receive assistance for no less than 12 months before redetermining eligibility
Can a document be used for more than one eligibility criteria?
Yes, a single document may be used to verify multiple eligibility criteria.
There are three scenarios in which a child may reside outside of DC, provided that they receive care in a licensed DC child development facility, and still receive subsidized child care. Name one.
One of the following:
- A child in out-of-home care (foster care) under the protection of the CFSA who resides with a foster parent(s) or guardian(s) in another state;
- A child under the protection of CFSA or the DC Superior Court who is living with a relative or guardian in another state; or
- A child under the protection of DC but placed in another state by a DC agency.
How are child support payments treated when determining eligibility for the DC Child Care Subsidy Program?
Eligibility workers may deduct child support payments made by a parent in the household for their children in another household, with written documentation of payment amount and frequency. Child support payments do not count as income for the receiving household, and families are not required to provide proof of child support payments to be eligible for the program.
What are the circumstances under which a family may be terminated from the DC Child Care Subsidy Program before their eligibility period ends?
If the family experiences a non-temporary change, if fraud is confirmed, or if the child has 30 consecutive unexcused absences.
What can an applicant do if they meet the criteria for multiple eligibility classifications?
The applicant may submit documents for the least restrictive eligibility, prioritizing the one requiring the fewest documents.
There are four classifications of qualifying need where children may be enrolled in child care before the completion of all required documentation. Name two of these classifications, and state how long the grace period is to provide the necessary documentation.
Any two of the following:
The grace period to provide any additional documentation necessary to determine eligibility is up to 60 calendar days.
How is self-employed parents’ income calculated for the DC Child Care Subsidy Program, and what expenses are allowable deductions?
Eligibility workers calculate self-employed parents’ income based on net income, which is gross business earnings minus allowable business expenses.
What documentation must families provide to redetermine their eligibility at the end of the eligibility period?
List all four requirements.