Page 171

Child Care Assistance Program Policy Manual Issued 10/2022 Family copayment 6.21 Child care assistance families are responsible for a copayment. The copayment is paid to the family’s child care provider biweekly. The copayment amount is based on family size and annual income after allowable deductions. Copayments are graduated to move families towards full payment of their child care costs as their income increases. During the biweekly period when the family first receives service, MEC2 will prorate the copayment based on the number of calendar days left in the biweekly period. Changes in income and/or family size Copay cannot increase during the 12-month eligibility period During the 12-month eligibility period, the amount of the copayment cannot increase. When family income increases or the family size decreases, the copayment will stay the same until the family’s next redetermination. At redetermination, the copayment will increase after a 15-day notice. Copay can decrease during the 12-month eligibility period During the 12-month eligibility period, the amount of the copayment can decrease. A decrease in copayment is effective the first day of the biweekly period after the copay change is approved in MEC². When family size increases, the copayment can decrease, even if the family size increase is not verified. Note: If a new person with unverified income is added to the family size, unverified income can be entered but is not required to be entered. Entering the income may result in no copayment decrease or a smaller decrease. When family income decreases: • If the income decrease is not verified, the copayment should not decrease. Do not enter an unverified income decrease. MEC² will not check if entered income changes are verified. If an unverified income decrease is entered into MEC² the system may incorrectly decrease the copayment for the family. The family may be subject to an overpayment, if verification later shows the copayment should not have decreased, and the overpayment was caused at least in part by the family’s action or error. See Chapter 14 (Overpayments) to determine when to assess an overpayment. • If the family submits verification of the income decrease, the worker must determine if the decrease is an accurate projection of future annualized income. If the decrease is an accurate projection of annualized income and the change would result in a decreased copayment, the worker must take action to reduce the copayment, including approval of eligibility results and Service Authorization results. A case note is recommended if the worker does not take action on a verified income decrease. • Workers are not required to act on the following income changes during the 12-month eligibility period: MFIP grant amount changes, changes in child support income, or changes that the family has not