3.1 Family Co-payments

Lead Agencies must establish and periodically revise a sliding-fee scale for families receiving CCDF services that varies based on income and the size of the family to determine each family’s contribution (i.e., co-payment) and does not create a barrier to receiving CCDF assistance. In addition to income and the size of the family, the Lead Agency may use other factors as appropriate when determining family contributions/co-payments. Lead Agencies may not use price of care or amount of subsidy payment in determining co-payments. Lead Agencies must ensure that the total payment to a child care provider is not reduced because of family’s lowered or waived co-payment. 3.1.1 Family co-payment Lead Agencies may not charge any family more than 7% of a family’s gross income, regardless of the number of children participating in CCDF. a. What is the maximum percent of a family’s gross income any family could be charged as a co-payment? Family fees are based on a percentage of a family’s annual gross applicable income and family size. The assessed fee is a family fee for all children in care, not a fee for each child. The maximum copay is always 7% and never goes above. Family fees are not assessed for child care services when one of the following applies: Children who are in Georgia’s Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) custody, a parent who is 17 years of age or younger at eligibility determination, and the family’s gross applicable income is at or below 10% of the poverty guidelines. b. Does the Lead Agency certify that their sliding fee scales are always based on income and family size (regardless of how many different scales they may use)? [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe: 3.1.2 Sliding fee scale Provide the CCDF co-payments for eligible families in the table(s) below according to family size for one child in care. a. Is the sliding fee scale set statewide? [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe how the sliding fee scale is set: b. Complete the table below. If the sliding fee scale is not set statewide, complete the table for the most populous locality: -- A B C D E F Family Size Lowest monthly income at initial eligibility where the family is first charged a co-pay (greater than $0). What is the monthly co-payment for a family of this size based on the income level in (A)? What percentage of income is the co- payment in (B)? Highest monthly income at initial eligibility where a family is charged a co-pay before a family is no longer eligible. What is the monthly co- payment for a family of this size based on the income level in (D)? What percentage of income is this co- payment in (E)? 1 126.00 4.00 3.00 2064.00 144.00 7.00 2 170.00 5.00 3.00 2698.00 189.00 7.00 3 215.00 6.00 3.00 3333.00 233.00 7.00 4 260.00 8.00 3.00 3968.00 278.00 7.00 5 305.00 9.00 3.00 4603.00 322.00 7.00 c. What is the effective date of the sliding-fee scale(s)? March 1, 2024 d. Provide the link(s) to the sliding-fee scale(s): https://caps.decal.ga.gov/assets/downloads/CAPS/AppendixD- Family%20Fee%20Assessment%20Chart.pdf e. Does the Lead Agency allow providers to charge families additional amounts above the required co-payment in instances where the provider’s price exceeds the subsidy payment? [ ] No. [x] Yes. If yes: i. Provide the rationale for the Lead Agency’s policy to allow providers to charge families additional amounts above the required co-payment, including a demonstration of how the policy does not provide a barrier and promotes affordability and access for families: The Lead Agency is committed to paying child care subsidy providers in a way that allows the greatest number of families the greatest degree of access while also ensuring long-term financial sustainability. As with other areas of policy, the Lead Agency will continuously work to balance these competing factors. Because funding levels are not high enough to pay all providers their published price, providers are allowed to charge families any additional amount between the total subsidy payment rate and their published rate on file. While this may place an additional burden on families, the Lead Agency also understands that preventing providers from having this option could reduce the number of providers willing to participate in the program. The Lead Agency believes that current subsidy reimbursement rates will significantly reduce the potential burden to families and allow for a better balance policy and practice to promote affordability and access. ii. Provide data (including data on the size and frequency of such amounts) on the extent to which CCDF providers charge additional amounts to families: Historically, approximately 70% of child care subsidy providers have reported charging families the additional amounts above the required co-payment. From the week starting May 17, 2021, through the week ending September 29, 2024, the Lead Agency used funding from CRRSA and ARPA to pay subsidy providers their published rate for providing child care. As a part of this change, providers were prevented from charging families any amount greater than the required co- payment. Due this prior policy, no data is available to be collected regarding the frequency or amounts of charged to families.