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Child Care Assistance Program Policy Manual Issued 02/2023 Verification – 12-month eligibility period 7.4 - Schedule changes - New employment - A temporary break from employment or education - A permanent end to employment or education. If a family reports a change that would result in a Service Authorization change, workers must request verification and allow 15 days for the family to return verification. If after 15 days verification has not been provided, consider the impact of the reported change before taking action. For changes that would result in a reduction in authorized hours or if you do not know the impact of the change: • If verification is not received, close the Service Authorization and suspend the family’s case until verification is received. • If verification is received and shows the Service Authorization must be reduced, reduce the authorized hours. Families must receive a 15-day adverse action notice when authorized hours are reduced. Follow MEC² User Manual instructions when there is a Reduction of Hours to a Provider Requiring 15-Day Notice Workaround. For changes that would result in an increase in authorized hours: • If verification is not received, do not increase authorized hours until verification is received. Do not take an adverse case action against the family unless verification is not received by their next redetermination. • If verification is received and shows the Service Authorization must be increased, increase the authorized hours. For a temporary break or permanent end in employment or education: • Ask the parent to submit verification including: - Whether the activity ending is permanent or temporary - The end date of the activity. • A written client statement is acceptable verification. • If verification is not received, close the Service Authorization and suspend the family’s case until verification is received. o If it is later determined that the family received or may have received child care for longer than the period allowed for Extended Eligibility, an overpayment may be assessed. See Chapter 14 (Overpayments) to determine when to assess an overpayment. • If verification is received: - If the break is temporary, close the Service Authorization and suspend the family’s case until verification is received. - If the break is permanent, use the end date provided by the verification as the date of Extended Eligibility. See Chapter 9.12 (Authorization changes during the 12-month eligibility period) for more information about authorization impacts during the 12-month eligibility period.