loading…
loading…
loading…
At eligibility determination or redetermination, children must (1) be younger than age 13; (2) reside with a family whose income does not exceed 85 percent of the State's median income (SMI) for a family of the same size and whose family assets do not exceed $1,000,000; and (3)(a) reside with a parent or parents who are working or attending a job training or educational program
(which can include job search) or (b) receive, or need to receive, protective services as defined by the Lead Agency.
2.2.1 Eligibility criteria: age of children served
Lead Agencies may provide child care assistance for children less than 13 years of age, including continuing to provide assistance to children if they turn 13 during the eligibility period. In addition, Lead Agencies can choose to serve children up to age 19 if those children are unable to care for themselves.
a. Does your Lead Agency serve the full federally allowable age range of children through age 12?
Yes.
No. If no, describe the age range of children served and the reason why you made that decision to serve less than the full range of allowable children.
Note: Do not include children incapable of self-care or under court supervision, who are reported below in 2.2.1b and 2.2.1c.
b. Does the Lead Agency extend eligibility for CCDF-funded child care to children ages 13 and older but below age 19 who are physically and/or mentally incapable of self-care?
No.
Yes.
i. If yes, the upper age is (may not equal or exceed age 19): 18
ii. If yes, provide the Lead Agency definition of physical and/or mental incapacity:
Children who have physical or mental incapacities as documented by a statement from local health providers or other professional in the health/medical field that explains how the child is incapable of self-care. These children who turn 19 during an eligibility period will remain eligible until the end of that period.
(a) a child with a disability, as defined in section 602 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 USC1401);
(b) a child who is eligible for Early Intervention services under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 USC1431 et seq.);
c. Does the Lead Agency extend eligibility for CCDF-funded child care to children ages 13 and older but below age 19 who are under court supervision?
No.
Yes. If yes, and the upper age is (may not equal or exceed age 19): 18
d. How does the Lead Agency define the following eligibility terms?
i. "residing with": Child living in the same household as the parent/guardian during the time period for which child care services are requested .
ii. "in loco parentis": Assuming guardianship and control of the child (need not be formalized through the Court if a relative within the first 5 degrees of kinship).
2.2.2 Eligibility criteria: reason for care
Lead Agencies have broad flexibility on the work, training, and educational activities required to qualify for child care assistance. Lead Agencies do not have to set a minimum number of hours for families to qualify for work, training, or educational activities, and there is no requirement to limit authorized child care services strictly based on the work, training, or educational schedule/hours of the parent(s). For example, the Lead Agency can include travel or study time in calculating the amount of needed services.
How does the Lead Agency define the following terms for the purposes of determining CCDF eligibility?
a. Identify which of the following activities are included in your definition of "working" by checking the boxes below:
i. An activity for which a wage or salary is paid.
ii. Being self-employed.
iii. During a time of emergency or disaster, partnering in essential services.
iv. Participating in unpaid activities like student teaching, internships, or practicums.
v. Time for meals or breaks.
vi. Time for travel.
vii. Seeking employment or job search.
viii. Other. Describe:
b. Identify which of the following activities are included in your definition of "attending job
training" by checking the boxes below:
i. Vocational/technical job skills training.
ii. Apprenticeship or internship program or other on-the-job training.
iii. English as a Second Language training.
iv. Adult Basic Education preparation.
v. Participation in employment service activities.
vi. Time for meals and breaks.
vii. Time for travel.
viii. Hours required for associated activities such as study groups, lab experiences.
ix. Time for outside class study or completion of homework.
x. Other. Describe:
c. Identify which of the following diplomas, certificates, degrees, or activities are included in your definition of "attending an educational program" by checking the boxes below:
i. Adult High School Diploma or GED.
ii. Certificate programs (12-18 credit hours).
iii. One-year diploma (36 credit hours).
iv. Two-year degree.
v. Four-year degree.
vi. Travel to and from classrooms, labs, or study groups.
vii. Study time.
viii. Hours required for associated activities such as study groups, lab experiences.
ix. Time for outside class study or completion of homework.
x. Applicable meal and break times.
xi. Other. Describe:
d. Does the Lead Agency impose a Lead Agency-defined minimum number of hours of activity for eligibility?
No.
Yes.
If yes, describe any Lead Agency-imposed minimum requirement for the following:
Work. Describe:
Job training. Describe:
Education. Describe:
Combination of allowable activities. Describe:
Other. Describe:
e. Does the Lead Agency allow parents to qualify for CCDF assistance based on education and training without additional work requirements?
Yes.
No. If no, describe the additional work requirements: 20 hours or more of work beginning in the 25th month of participation in below post-secondary education.
f. Does the Lead Agency extend eligibility to specific populations of children otherwise not eligible by including them in its definition of "children who receive or need to receive protective services?"
Note: A Lead Agency may elect to provide CCDF-funded child care to children in foster care when foster care parents are not working or are not in education/training activities, but this provision should be included in the Lead Agency's protective services definition.
No. If no, skip to question 2.2.3.
[x] Yes. If yes, answer the questions below:
Provide the Lead Agency's definition of "protective services" by checking below the sub-populations of children that are included:
Children in foster care.
Children in kinship care.
Children who are in families under court supervision.
Children who are in families receiving supports or otherwise engaged with a child welfare agency.
Children participating in a Lead Agency's Early Head Start - Child Care Partnerships program.
Children whose family members are deemed essential workers under a governor-declared state of emergency.
Children experiencing homelessness.
Children whose family has been affected by a natural disaster.
Other. Describe: Families that have at least one parent deployed away from home in military duty.
g. Does the Lead Agency waive the income eligibility requirements for cases in which children receive, or need to receive, protective services on a case-by-case basis?
No.
Yes.
h. Does the Lead Agency waive the eligible activity (e.g., work, job training, education, etc.) requirements for cases in which children receive, or need to receive, protective services on a case-by-case basis?
No.
Yes.
i. Does the Lead Agency use CCDF funds to provide respite care to custodial parents of children in protective services?
No.
Yes.
2.2.3 Eligibility criteria: deciding entity on family income limits
How are income eligibility limits established?
There is a statewide limit with no local variation.
There is a statewide limit with local variation. Provide the number of income eligibility tables and describe who sets the limits:
Eligibility limits are established locally only. Provide the number of income eligibility tables and describe who sets the limits:
Other. Describe:
2.2.4 Initial eligibility: income limits
a. Complete the appropriate table to describe family income limits.
i. Complete the table below to provide the statewide maximum income eligibility percent and dollar limit or threshold:
Family Size 100% of SMI ($/Month) Maximum Initial Eligibility Limit (or Threshold) % Maximum Initial Eligibility Limit (or Threshold) $ 1 0.00 0.00 0.00 2 $6,385.14 60% SMI $3,833 3 $7,887.53 61% SMI $4,841 4 $9,389.92 62% SMI $5,850 5 $10,892.30 63% SMI $6,859
ii. Does the Lead Agency certify that they use other funds if the income eligibility limit percent exceeds 85% SMI?
[ ] Not applicable. The Lead Agency does not allow income eligibility limits above 85% SMI.
[ ] Yes, the Lead Agency certifies that they use other funds (non-CCDF funds) for families with income that exceeds 85% SMI.
[x] No. The Lead Agency establishes income eligibility limits above SMI and includes CCDF funds to pay for families with income that exceeds 85% SMI. If checked, describe: CCDF funds with State funding for protective service families that exceed 85% SMI.
b. Complete the table below if the Lead Agency has local variation in the maximum income eligibility limit. Complete the table for the region/locality with the highest eligibility limit, region/locality with the lowest eligibility limit, and the region/locality that is most populous:
i. Region/locality with the highest eligibility limit
Family Size 100% of SMI ($/Month) Maximum Initial Eligibility Limit (or Threshold) % Maximum Initial Eligibility Limit (or Threshold) $ 1 2 3 4 5
ii. Region/locality with the lowest eligibility limit:
Family Size 100% of SMI ($/Month) Maximum Initial Eligibility Limit (or Threshold) % Maximum Initial Eligibility Limit (or Threshold) $ 1 2 3 4 5
iii. Region/locality that is most populous:
Family Size 100% of SMI ($/Month) Maximum Initial Eligibility Limit (or Threshold) % Maximum Initial Eligibility Limit (or Threshold) $ 1 2 3 4 5
iv. Does the Lead Agency certify that they use other funds if the income eligibility limit percent exceeds 85% SMI?
[ ] Not applicable. The Lead Agency does not allow income eligibility limits above 85% SMI.
[ ] Yes, the Lead Agency certifies that they use other funds (not CCDF funds) for families with income that exceeds 85% SMI.
[ ] No. The Lead Agency establishes income eligibility limits above 85% SMI and includes CCDF funds to pay for families with income that exceeds 85% SMI. If
checked, describe:
c. How does the Lead Agency define "income" for the purposes of eligibility at the point of initial determination? Check all that apply:
i. Gross wages or salary.
ii. Disability or unemployment compensation.
iii. Workers' compensation.
iv. Spousal support, child support.
v. Survivor and retirement benefits.
vi. Rent for room within the family's residence.
vii. Pensions or annuities.
viii. Inheritance.
ix. Public assistance.
x. Other. Describe:
d. What is the effective date for these income eligibility limits? 12/1/22
e. Income limits must be established and reported in terms of current SMI based on the most recent data published by the Bureau of the Census, even if the federal poverty level is used in implementing the program.
What federal data does the Lead Agency use when reporting the income eligibility limits?
LIHEAP. If checked, provide the publication year of the LIHEAP guideline estimates used by the Lead Agency: 2024
Other. Describe:
f. Provide the direct URL/website link, if available, for the income eligibility limits. https://www.dhs.state.il.us/onenetlibrary/12/documents/Forms/IL444-3455B.pdf
2.2.5 Income eligibility: irregular fluctuations in earnings
Lead Agencies must take into account irregular fluctuations in earnings in initial eligibility determination and redetermination processes. The Lead Agency must ensure that temporary increases in income, including temporary increases that can result in a monthly income exceeding 85 percent of SMI from seasonal employment or other temporary work schedules, do not affect eligibility or family co-payments.
Check the processes that the Lead Agency uses to take into account irregular fluctuations in earnings.
i. Average the family's earnings over a period of time (e.g., 12 months).
Identify the period of time:
ii. Request earning statements that are most representative of the family's
monthly income.
iii. Deduct temporary or irregular increases in wages from the family's standard income level.
iv. Other. Describe the other ways the Lead Agency takes into account irregular fluctuations in earnings:
2.2.6 Family asset limit
a. When calculating income eligibility, does the Lead Agency ensure each eligible family does not have assets that exceed $1,000,000?
Yes.
No. If no, describe:
b. Does the Lead Agency waive the asset limit on a case-by-case basis for families defined as receiving, or in need of, protective services?
No.
Yes. If yes, describe the policy or procedure: Asset limits are waived for families Transitioning from IDCFS Intact Family Services, Deployed Military Families, Parenting Youth in Care and Extended Family Support Program Services.
2.2.7 Additional eligibility criteria
Aside from the eligibility conditions or rules which have been described in 2.2.1 - 2.2.6, is any additional eligibility criteria applied during:
a. Eligibility determination? If checked, describe:
b. Eligibility redetermination? If checked, describe:
2.2.8 Documentation of eligibility determination
Lead Agencies must document and verify that children receiving CCDF funds meet eligibility criteria at the time of eligibility determination and redetermination.
Check the information that the Lead Agency documents and verifies at initial determination and redetermination and describe what information is required and how often.
Required at Initial Determination Required at Redetermination Description [x] [x] Applicant identity. Describe how you verify: Self-certified [x] [x] Applicant's relationship to the child. Describe how you verify: Self-certified [x] [x] Child's information for determining eligibility (e.g., identity, age, citizen/immigration status). Describe how you verify: Self-certified [x] [x] Work. Describe how you verify: 2 recent pay stubs or employment verification letter [x] [x] Job training or educational program. Describe how you verify: Class schedule or letter of enrollment from the program sponsoring the training. [x] [x] Family income. Describe how you verify: 2 recent pay stubs, income verification form or tax returns [x] [x] Household composition. Describe how you verify: Self-certified [x] [x] Applicant residence. Describe how you verify: Self-certified [ ] [ ] Other. Describe how you verify: N/A
2.2.9 Exception to TANF work requirements
Lead Agencies must ensure that families with young children participating in TANF will be informed of their right not to be sanctioned under the TANF work requirement if the custodial parent has a demonstrated inability to obtain child care for a child under age six, in accordance with Section 407(e)(2) of the Social Security Act.
a. Identify the TANF agency that established these criteria or definitions: Illinois Department of Human Services
b. Provide the following definitions established by the TANF agency:
i. "Appropriate child care": Care that is reasonably related to the hours of training or employment including the transportation needs of the family and meets the child's needs and complies with all applicable state and local laws .
ii. "Reasonable distance": The amount of time it takes the client to travel between the child care setting and the work/training/education activity. Mode of transportation and time of day are considered when determining if the time requested is reasonable .
iii. "Unsuitability of informal child care": Arrangements with providers that do not meet the child's needs, are not available during the client's activity schedule, are not located in reasonable proximity of the client's home or activity location are unreliable, and/or violate state and local laws and regulations .
iv. "Affordable child care arrangements": Child care that is free or eligible for payment by the CCDF Lead Agency and that does not exceed the Lead Agency's maximum daily rate for the type of care.
c. How are parents who receive TANF benefits informed about the exception to the individual penalties associated with the TANF work requirements?
i. In writing
ii. Verbally
iii. Other. Describe: