Page 148

Child Care Assistance Program Policy Manual Issued 10/2019 New Spouse Income policy 6.6.3 Families whose total annualized income is greater than 67% of SMI are not eligible for the New Spouse Income policy. Who is the Designated Spouse in a CCAP family? The Designated Spouse is the person whose income will not be counted when the policy is applied.* See CCAP Policy Manual Chapter 2 (Glossary). *Exception: Income must continue to be counted if a Designated Spouse meets any of the following criteria for their MFIP or DWP case: • Fails to provide Social Security Number. • Has a fraud disqualification. • Is a fleeing felon. • Is a parole violator. The MFIP or DWP worker enters the Designated Spouse determination in MAXIS. See Combined Manual Chapter 22.11 (New Spouse Income) for more information about how the Designated Spouse is determined for the New Spouse Income policy. This determination carries through to the CCAP case in MEC². The Designated Spouse is not determined by CCAP. How are the 26 biweekly periods counted? The 26 consecutive biweekly periods during which the Designated Spouse’s income is eligible to not count are a set period of time which begins two biweekly periods after the biweekly period with the marriage date. This time period is identified as the “New Spouse Income Exemption Period.” The New Spouse Exemption Period: • May include periods of ineligibility. • Is not cancelled or altered by a change in CCAP subprograms. However, if a change in CCAP subprograms occurs, the income of the Designated Spouse counts. • May have different start and end dates between CCAP and MFIP or DWP. What are the verification requirements? Verify the marriage date before determining the CCAP household eligible for the New Spouse Income policy. Contact the MFIP or DWP worker to confirm the verification has been turned in or to request a copy of the verification for the CCAP file BEFORE requesting the verification from the family. • If verification of the marriage date is received within the same biweekly period of the marriage, the family will be eligible for 26 biweekly periods where the Designated Spouse’s income is not counted. • If verification of the marriage date is received AFTER the biweekly period of marriage, stop counting the income of the Designated Spouse two biweekly periods AFTER verification of the marriage date is received. The Designated Spouse’s income will not count for fewer than 26 biweekly periods.