a. Gross Income Eligibility

Gross countable family income for applicants and recipients shall be less than fifty percent of the state median income level for the appropriate family size as established by the Department of Health and Human Services. The commissioner shall have discretion to increase the income limit to up to seventy-five percent of the state median income level for all CCAP recipients or for both applicants and recipients. The commissioner may also, upon the request of the commissioner of Children and Families, waive the gross income limit for families who need child care assistance for a child who was adopted from the Department of Children and Families after October 1, 1999 and whose countable income does not exceed the maximum level established for participation pursuant to 42 CFR section 98.20 of the federal Child Care and Development Fund Regulations. Adoptive families for whom the income limit is waived shall be responsible for paying the maximum fee required pursuant to subsection (f) of section 17b-749-13 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.

A family whose income equals or exceeds the established income limit shall be ineligible for CCAP, unless the income exceeds the limit for not more than one calendar month due to an extra pay period or other temporary increase.

Income shall be counted in the month it is received by the family member, except to the extent the income is averaged in accordance with requirements of subsection (d) of this section.

The department shall adjust the state median income standards annually. For new applicants, the adjusted standards shall take effect beginning on or after July 1 of each year. For families receiving child care assistance on June 30, the adjusted standards shall take effect not later than the first redetermination completed after July 1 of each year.