Page 29

CAPS Policy – Eligibility Requirements No.: CAPS/00-6 Effective Date: 10/01/2016 Revised: 07/01/2025 Revision Effective: 07/01/2025

CAPS Policy Manual

Page 29 of 109 LEGAL AUTHORITY: Federal Register: 45 Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) 98 and 99; Immigration and Naturalization Act (INA) 300 et. Seq.

Cross Reference/See Also: CAPS Priority Groups Policy (CAPS/00-7)

Note: Definitions of words or phrases in bold are located in Definitions and Acronyms. Only the first occurrence of the defined words or phrases are bolded.

6 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Purpose The purpose of this policy is to define non-financial eligibility requirements for CAPS and provide guidelines for verifying that these eligibility requirements are met. Families may also be required to meet income guidelines as prescribed in CAPS Income Calculations Policy (CAPS/00-8) and priority group eligibility as prescribed in CAPS Priority Groups (CAPS/00-07).

Scope This policy applies to all employees of the Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) all parties responsible for the administration of the CAPS program, parents, and child care providers who receive subsidies administered by DECAL on behalf of parents.

Residency Requirement 6.3.1 For the purposes of CAPS, all parents must be a resident of the State of Georgia.

6.3.2 Proof of residency may include one of the following:

• Current (unexpired) Georgia government issued driver’s license/identification (I.D.) card • Current (unexpired) lease or mortgage statement • Notarized statement from landlord or person with whom the applicant resides (statement does not need to be notarized for those who meet eligibility for the families who lack fixed, regular, and adequate housing priority group) • Children’s school records within current school year • Voter registration card • Motor vehicle registration card with residence address • Wage stubs with residence address • Work or school I.D. with residence address • Current utility bill/statement • Current property tax statement

Note: The above list is not an all-inclusive list and families have the right to submit other forms of verification/documentation that must be credible to determine Georgia residency. Georgia residency can also be verified using other eligibility program system sources whenever possible.

Age Requirement 6.4.1 In order to apply for CAPS services, the child in need of care must be 12 years of age or younger at the time of eligibility determination, or 17 years of age or younger if the child has a disability or developmental delay that impacts their learning or has a case plan requiring child care as part of court-ordered supervision.

6.4.2 Proof of age may include one of the following:

• Birth certificate