2.1 Reducing Barriers to Family Enrollment and Redetermination

Lead Agency enrollment and redetermination policies may not unduly disrupt parents’ employment, education, or job training activities to comply with the Lead Agency’s or designated local entity’s requirements. Lead Agencies have broad flexibility to design and implement the eligibility practices that reduce barriers to enrollment and redetermination. Examples include developing strategies to inform families and their providers of an upcoming redetermination and the information that will be required of the family, pre-populating subsidy renewal forms, having parents confirm that the information is accurate, and/or asking only for the information necessary to make an eligibility redetermination. In addition, Lead Agencies can offer a variety of family-friendly methods for submitting documentation for eligibility redetermination that considers the range of needs for families in accessing support (e.g., use of languages other than English, access to transportation, accommodation of parents working non-traditional hours). 2.1.1 Eligibility practices to reduce barriers to enrollment a. Does the Lead Agency implement any of the following eligibility practices to reduce barriers at the time of initial eligibility determination? Check all that apply and describe those elements checked. i. [ ] Establishing presumptive eligibility while eligibility is being determined. Describe the policy, including the populations benefiting from the policy, and identify how long the period of presumptive eligibility is: ii. [x] Leveraging eligibility from other public assistance programs. Describe: Subsidized Child Care Manual Chapter 4, XII. Application Process. When an applicant has been determined eligible for Food and Nutrition Services (FNS), they are deemed income eligible for subsidized child care assistance. iii. [x] Coordinating determinations for children in the same household (while still ensuring each child receives 12 months of eligibility). Describe: Subsidized Child Care Manual Chapter 4, XII. Application Process, B. Application where there is more than One Case. A recipient can submit one (1) application for all children in the household. Through NC FAST, there can be one (1) application for a family that has more than one (1) case. If a recipient applies for services for his/her own child in addition to a child whom they are the nonparent caretaker, there will be one (1) application and two (2) cases. iv. [ ] Self-assessment screening tools for families. Describe: v. [ ] Extended office hours (evenings and/or weekends). vi. [x] Consultation available via phone. vii. [x] Other. Describe the Lead Agency policies to process applications efficiently and make timely eligibility determinations: Subsidized Child Care Manual Chapter 4., XI. Establishing the Initial Eligibility Period, A. Standard Eligibility Period, The DSS/LPA has 30 calendar days from the date the application is received in an agency to determine eligibility. viii. [ ] None. b. Does the Lead Agency use an online subsidy application? [ ] Yes. [x] No. If no, describe why an online application is impracticable. The agency is exploring the option to add the application online. c. Does the Lead Agency use different policies for families receiving TANF assistance? [ ] Yes. If yes, describe the policies: [x] No. 2.1.2 Preventing disruption of eligibility activities a. Identify, where applicable, the Lead Agency’s procedures and policies to ensure that parents do not have their employment, education, or job training unduly disrupted to comply with the State’s/Territory’s or designated local entity’s requirements for the redetermination of eligibility. Check all that apply. i. [x] Advance notice to parents of pending redetermination. ii. [ ] Advance notice to providers of pending redetermination. iii. [x] Pre-populated subsidy renewal form. iv. [ ] Online documentation submission. v. [ ] Cross-program redeterminations. vi. [ ] Extended office hours (evenings and/or weekends). vii. [x] Consultation available via phone. viii. [ ] Leveraging eligibility from other public assistance programs. ix. [x] Other. Describe: Families enrolled in the Work First Program (TANF) with an active Mutual Responsibility Agreement in place for job seeking would meet the need criteria for initial eligibility determination and redetermination. Job seeking is not an allowable need criterion for initial eligibility or redetermination for any recipients not enrolled in the Work First Program. b. Does the Lead Agency use different policies for families receiving TANF assistance? [x] Yes. If yes, describe the policies: Families enrolled in the Work First Program (TANF) with an active Mutual Responsibility Agreement in place for job seeking would meet the need criteria for initial eligibility determination and redetermination. Job seeking is not an allowable need criterion for initial eligibility or redetermination for any recipients not enrolled in the Work First Program. [ ] No.