Page 5

Subsidized Child Care Assistance Program Policy Manual Chapter 8. Parent fee REVISED 04/27/2026 5

by the recipient should be entered into NC FAST by the child care worker if the change decreases the parent fee or increases the recipient’s subsidy. Refer to Chapter 11 Responding to Eligibility Changes and redetermination for recipient required and voluntary reporting.

2. The applicant/recipient can negotiate with the provider a parent fee payment plan that best suits the applicant’s/recipient’s needs. The applicant/recipient and the provider may agree upon an individual plan for collecting parent fee payments at less than monthly intervals. 3. Should an applicant/recipient choose a provider who charges more than the subsidy rate the LPA has authorized, the applicant/recipient may pay the difference between the provider’s charge and the rate paid by the LPA. If the applicant/recipient is unable or unwilling to pay the difference in this situation, another provider must be selected by the recipient. There may be cases where providers charge the applicant/recipient additional fees for activities not included in the normal program of child care. These additional charges may include:

i. Enrollment or registration fees when the fees are not paid using county funds; ii. Fees for arriving late to pick up the child or for late payment of the fee; or

iii. Special fees for activities such as swimming or dance lessons.

NOTE: The LPA is not responsible for these separate fees charged to recipients. C. Responsibilities of the Provider

1. Providers are solely responsible for the collection of parent fees. The provider must collect the parent fee from the recipient on a regular basis and apply the same policy for non-payment of