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July 1, 2026 | 32
1. Child Care: The LWDB provider authorizes childcare for the hours of work activity or employment plus a reasonable time to travel to and from the childcare facility and the place to work activity/employment and return. Each family must contribute to the cost of the childcare through a parent co-payment, using the fee schedule established by the local School Readiness Programs or Early Learning Coalitions. The child receiving care must be within the specified degree of relationship to the participant to be eligible to receive TANF-funded assistance and must be included in the assistance group. Childcare is no longer in section 445.025, F.S., however, it is a service offered via referral through the workforce system as outlined in Rule 65A-4.218, Florida Administrative Code. See Section 5.4, School Readiness Programs or Early Learning Coalitions for more information. 2. Transportation: Transportation expenses may be provided to a participant when assistance is needed to comply with work activity or employment requirements. Allowable transportation expenses for participants include bus tokens or passes, transit vouchers, car repairs, and gasoline. LWDB staff or service providers pay participants for transportation in advance or reimburse against receipts or invoices. If funds are available, providers may help pay for vehicle operation and repair expenditures necessary to make a vehicle serviceable, vehicle registration and driver license fees and liability insurance for up to six months, in accordance with their local operating procedures. 3. Ancillary Expenses: These may include books, tools, clothing, education or training fees, background checks, drug screening, or other costs to comply with employers’ hiring conditions, or other expenses necessary to complete work or alternative requirement plan activities, such as paying the fee for a medical form certifying disability or other medical condition to be completed by a physician licensed under Chapters 458 or 459, F.S. The completion of a medical form or statement is not a service Medicaid covers. 4. Personal and Family Counseling Therapy: The LWDB staff or service provider may refer participants to counseling who have personal or family problems caused by substance abuse or mental health issues that are barriers to participation or employment. These providers refer participants to community services that are available without additional cost. If the community services are not available at no cost, the LWDB staff or service provider may use support service funds. 5. Medical Services: Families that meet Medicaid eligibility requirements receive medical services under the Medicaid program. Florida does not use TANF funds to pay for medical services, except for as outlined on page 28.
3.4 CHILD CARE RELATED DEFINITIONS
A participant cannot be sanctioned if acceptable childcare is not available. Federal TANF regulations at 45 CFR § 261.56(b) require states to define the following four terms as they relate to determining if childcare is unavailable: 1. Appropriate childcare: An eligible childcare provider as defined in 45 CFR 98.2, and section 1002.88, F.S. Childcare options must have hours of operation that meets the needs of the parents work schedule and meet any special needs of the individual child.