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CHILD CARE SUBSIDY ELIGIBILITY POLICY MANUAL  18 A change in income or household size may result in a change in the sliding fee amount. In the event of a reduction of the sliding fee, DESE will notify the participant and the authorized child care provider of the change in the sliding fee amount. The reduction in the sliding fee amount is effective in the month the respective change is reported. A sliding fee shall not be charged to children with a special need for child care or Protective Service children.

9.2 CO‐PAYMENTS TO THE PROVIDER When a child care provider’s actual charges are more than the state maximum rate, the child care provider may collect the excess amount from the eligibility unit. This is called the co‐payment and is the eligibility unit’s responsibility to pay in addition to the sliding fee. A sliding fee shall not be charged to children with a special need for child care or Protective Service children. 9.3 NON‐PAYMENT OF SLIDING FEE An applicant may have a Child Care Subsidy application rejected if the applicant has an outstanding debt owed to a contracted child care provider. If a child care provider reports that an applicant fails to pay the sliding fee amount, verification of the amount owed shall be requested, and the applicant shall repay or sign an agreement agreeing to repay the provider prior to being found eligible. 9.4 PAYMENT FOR FUNCTIONAL AGE OF A CHILD WITH A SPECIAL NEED Rates paid by DESE are based on the child’s functional age. If a child is functioning at a functional age less than their actual age, DESE shall document the child’s functional age based on documentation received. The rate paid to the provider shall reflect the child’s functional age. Section 10: REAPPLICATION PROCESS 10.1 REAPPLICATION DESE shall send a written notification to the applicant at least thirty (30) days prior to the eligibility end date. The notification shall be sent to the address on file with DESE. In order to be re‐determined for continued eligibility, the applicant shall complete and return the application to assess eligibility for traditional and/or transitional child care benefits. The application shall be assessed in accordance with all Child Care Subsidy eligibility criteria. The applicant’s failure to submit the application prior to the end of the current eligibility period will result in termination of the benefit.