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? 7%

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)?

Yes.

No. If no, describe: Copayments are waived for protective service categories and reduced for other population such as employment with or as a child car provider.

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?

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 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 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 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 2 1.00 1.00 0.05% $3,833 $235.00 6.10% 3 1.00 1.00 0.04% $4,881 $335.00 6.80% 4 1.00 1.00 0.03% $5,850.00 $405.00 6.90% 5 1.00 1.00 0.03% $6,859.00 $475.00 6.90%

c. What is the effective date of the sliding-fee scale(s)? 7/1/24

d. Provide the link(s) to the sliding-fee scale(s): SlidingFeeScale

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.

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: Illinois allows non-site contracted providers to charge parents the difference between their private pay rates and the State's maximum rate in order to give parents a wider choice of child care providers. Our policy promotes affordability for families by allowing families the opportunity to choose how they manage their funds through offering a variety of quality child care providers (Licensed, Gold/Silver/Bronze rated through the ExceleRate QRIS system, Family, Friend, and Neighbor care providers, etc.).

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: Illinois' 2023 Market Rate Survey reported that 31% (up from 27.4% in 2021) of centers charge the difference between their private pay rates and the State's maximum rate to families, while 20% (up from 16.7% in 2021) of homes charge the difference between these rates.