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Subsidized Child Care Assistance Program Policy Manual Chapter 7. Family Definition and Determining Income Eligibility Revised 08/01/2024

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VI. CHILD SUPPORT When assessing child support, child care workers must determine if the child support is received or paid out. The base period for child support, and alimony when received is the three months prior to the month of application or redetermination (date received in agency) if representative.

The base period when child support is paid out is one month prior to the month of application or redetermination (date received in agency) if representative.

Child support is a payment made by a non-custodial parent which is available to meet the child’s basic needs. It may be paid voluntarily, under a court order or enforced in compliance with a state agreement under Title IV-D. Child support includes both direct and indirect payments. When budgeting child support income, a child is defined as 1. Any individual under the age of 18 or 2. Any individual age 18 and 19, if attending high school full time. Child support income belongs to the child. Child support evidence must be entered under the child’s name. If the child is included in the SCCA income unit, the child support income must be budgeted regardless of whether the child receives child care services or not. When there are siblings in the income unit NC FAST will count child support for both children. There is only one assistance unit created. Applicant/recipients whose children are not receiving child support should be encouraged to seek the assistance of the local Child Support Services Office in obtaining child support payments from the child’s non-custodial parent(s). However, seeking assistance from Child Support Services shall not be a condition of eligibility for receiving child care assistance. The child care worker should try to obtain a written statement from the non- custodial parent before taking recipient's statement of child support as a last resort.