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Child Care Assistance Program Policy Manual Issued 08/2022 Applicant requirements 4.1 Applicant general requirements To receive child care assistance, the applicant must be a Parentally Responsible Individual of the child(ren) for whom assistance is requested. The relationship of the child(ren) to the applicant must be verified. Applicants who are eligible Parentally Responsible Individuals include: • Parents (biological and adoptive) • Step-parents • Legal spouses of Parentally Responsible Individuals • Legal guardians (see below) • Eligible relative caregivers (see below). Legal guardians Legal guardian means a person who has been appointed or accepted as guardian by a court of jurisdiction or tribal law according to Minnesota Statutes section 260C.325, 524.5-201, 524.5-202, or 524.5-204. Request verification from the family to confirm that they meet the specific legal guardian definition for the Child Care Assistance Program. Eligible relative caregivers Eligible relative caregiver means (1) an eligible caregiver of a child receiving a Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) child-only grant or (2) an eligible caregiver who is receiving an MFIP or DWP grant and is the MFIP or DWP eligible caregiver of a child. A person’s status as an eligible relative caregiver for child care assistance is determined by being determined an eligible caregiver for cash assistance. • After an eligible relative caregiver begins receiving child care assistance, status as an eligible relative caregiver continues through all child care assistance sub-programs until there is a break in the eligible relative caregiver's eligibility for child care assistance. Eligibility for child care assistance continues even when eligible relative caregiver status ends with cash assistance. • If there is a break in child care assistance eligibility and the caregiver reapplies for child care assistance, the caregiver must have eligible relative caregiver status with cash assistance or meet another definition of Parentally Responsible Individual at the time of reapplication in order to be eligible for child care assistance for a relative child. • If a child’s parent moves into the household while an eligible relative caregiver is receiving child care assistance for the child, the eligible relative caregiver retains eligibility through the remainder of their 12-month eligibility period. The child’s parent is not included in the eligible relative caregiver’s CCAP case. At redetermination eligible relative caregiver status ends and eligibility for the child ends due to