Policy Statement:

A family is considered income eligible when the combined non-exempt gross monthly base income (earned and unearned) of all family members is at or below the amounts listed below for the corresponding family size. In two-parent families, both incomes must be combined to determine eligibility. Two-parent families include those with 2 or more adults living in the home, such as the applicant and his or her spouse or parents of a common child in the home.

Families whose monthly non-exempt income that does not exceed 225% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for their family size at the time of initial program application are eligible for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP).

Family income must not exceed 275% FPL, with all other eligibility criteria met to be approved for another 12-month period when eligibility is redetermined up to 30 days after the ending date of an eligibility period. Redeterminations received more than 30 days past the last date of eligible will be treated as new applications and must have income at or below 225% FPL.

Families being redetermined with non-exempt income between 275% FPL and 85% of the State Median Income (SMI) will have their 12-month eligibility period extended 3 months. Copayment amounts should be updated to the highest amount for the family's size during this Graduated Phase Out period.

Whenever a family reports an increase to their non-exempt family income that exceeds 85% of the State Medium Income (SMI), the case is to be canceled effective 10 calendar days from the date of the termination notice sent to the family and provider(s).

If the family request child-care assistance at any time after the graduated phase-out period has ended, the request must be treated as a new application with family income below 225% of the Federal Poverty level or less to qualify.