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Subsidized Child Care Assistance Program Policy Manual Chapter 4. Application, Eligibility Determination & Documentation

REVISED 04/27/2026

17 document the reason for declining the application and notify the applicant.

3. Face-to-Face Application

When an application is completed during a face-to-face appointment, the date of the face-to-face appointment will be the first day of the certification period and the date entered in NC FAST as the application date.

NOTE: In all situations, except for face-to-face applications, applications shall not be keyed in NC FAST until a signed paper application is received in the agency. Applications and recertifications must be date-stamped. If the email is available (either from the worker’s history or applicant’s), this can also be used as verification of date of receipt.

While completing the Application for Subsidized Child Care Assistance in NC FAST, child care workers must ask why Subsidized Child Care Assistance is needed, including specific information regarding the days and hours the care is needed. Determine the family unit, calculate income, and parent fees correctly, and obtain verification of income.

Processing an SCCA application includes evidence management, verifications, eligibility checks, activating evidence, and authorization or denial of benefits. An authorized application creates a case that must be activated. Active cases must be followed by voucher processing.

Children authorized for payment must be determined eligible by the DSS/LPA for the entire period for which the provider is paid. Recipient files may be checked to determine that proper documents are located there, with proper signatures and due dates.