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

REVISED 04/27/2026

4 • A parent or responsible adult needing SCCA. The parent or responsible adult is the applicant/recipient and is referred to as the person or persons with whom the child lives and who has primary responsibility for the care and the well-being of the child.

• An applicant/recipient needing child care assistance must apply with their local DSS/LPA.

• An Authorized representative (A/R) for the applicant/recipient can be requested if the applicant/recipient is incompetent or incapacitated. Authorized representatives who apply for Subsidized Child Care Assistance for the applicant/recipient have the same responsibility as applicant/recipient to provide accurate and complete information to the DSS/LPA.

• Staff designated by the DSS/LPA director if the child is in custody of the Department of Social Services. Designated agency staff should only sign the application DCDEE-0456 or the printed application from NC FAST if the child/ren are in the custody of the county (foster care). For CPS and CWS with a referral, the parent/responsible adult must sign the application DCDEE-0456, Recipient Responsibilities and Voucher. The parent/responsible adult will sign the application DCDEE-0456, Recipient Responsibilities, and Voucher when the child is not in DSS custody.

• Anyone other than that child’s parent (s) or legal custodian (s) who is providing full time care for a child who is not in the custody of a North Carolina County Department of Social Services.

• Federal Land Trust Residents. Applicants/recipients referred by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians for Subsidized Child Care Assistance to support Child Protective Services (CPS), Child Welfare Services (CWS) and Foster Care. The application will be made in the applicant/recipient’s county of residence with the appropriate referral.