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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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NOTE: The household unit for families who are receiving benefits from the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) program may differ from the income unit for child care assistance. The child care worker should ask the parent questions to clarify any differences.

A. Responsible Adult

The applicant/recipient is the person or persons with whom the child lives and who has the primary responsibility for the care and well- being of the child. However, a child may live with an adult who is responsible for his/her care but is not financially obligated for the support of the child, such as a grandparent, that may have custody of a child.

Legal custody or court-ordered custody does not act to terminate parental rights and therefore does not relieve parents of financial obligation to their child. According to North Carolina General Statute, parents’ financial obligations toward their children are relieved when an order of adoption or termination of parental rights is entered by the court. Couples who are not legally married may claim to be common-law marriage partners; however, common-law marriage is not legally recognized in North Carolina. Marriage must be solemnized as required by law in order for individuals to be considered spouses under the definition of family. However, if both parents (biological or adoptive) of a child in need of child care assistance reside in the same household, both are members of the income unit and both incomes are counted for the purpose of determining eligibility.