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2023-R-0249 November 1, 2023 Page 4 of 5

Eligibility Requirements To qualify to receive benefits under the Care 4 Kids program, families must (1) reside in Connecticut, (2) be employed or attending a Jobs First approved education or training activity, and (3) meet income requirements. Families must meet the following income limits when applying or reapplying for the Care 4 Kids program: 1. less than 60% of the SMI for initial applications received on or after October 1, 2023; and 2. less than 65% of the SMI for reapplication after October 1, 2023.

Families must report (1) income over 85% of the SMI, (2) loss of employment or approved training activity, (3) whether a child receiving Care 4 Kids benefits is no longer in the home, or (4) a change of phone number or address.

The OEC commissioner assigns families to a priority group, and the office must accept applications based on certain priorities, including, among others, (1) teen parents, (2) parents or caretakers enrolled in an adult education or other high school equivalency program, (3) low-income working families, and (4) working families who are at risk of welfare dependency (CGS 17b-749(c)).

Recent Legislation About Care 4 Kids Income Level Eligibility New state legislation requires the OEC commissioner to establish a two-tiered income eligibility limit to conform with federal regulations (PA 23-160, § 41). These regulations require that if OEC establishes a maximum income level at less than 85% SMI, then OEC must provide a two-tiered income limit for new applicants and current recipients by implementing (1) the original eligibility tier and (2) a second tier set between the agency’s initial eligibility threshold (which is currently 60%) and 85% SMI to account for the typical household budget of a low-income family (45 C.F.R. § 98.21(b)).

The federal regulation also requires OEC to provide justification that the second tier threshold (1) is sufficient to accommodate increases over time in family income and that promote and support family economic stability and (2) reasonably allows a family to continue accessing child care services without disruption. The second tier must be used when the recipient is considered for redetermination.

Care 4 Kids Payment Determination According to OEC’s Care 4 Kids website, when determining the certificate amount issued to families, the Care 4 Kids program considers the provider’s location in the state, the type of