Establishing Need 400-28-20-35

(Revised 4/1/2024 ML #3791)

View Archives

For a new application or review, in order for a child to be eligible, the child must have a child care need for the application or review month or the month following the application or review month. A child is considered to have a need when the caretaker (s) is participating in an allowable activity. All hours the child needs child care, in the month need is being established, must be taken into consideration (which includes hours needed for days off from school, weekends, after school, etc.). At application or review, if a child does not have a child care need for the application or review month or the month following the application or review month, the child is not considered eligibile. If there is only one child in the household and that child does not have a child care need, then the application or review is denied.

At time of application, if need has been determined for a child for the prior month only, the child can be eligible for the prior month, but would not be eligible for the 18-month eligibility period.

If assistance is requested for the prior month, actual hours the child needed child care while their caretaker(s) was in an allowable activity in the prior month must be used.

Once need is established for a child and the child is determined eligible, the child will remain eligible as long as all other eligibility criteria is met.

If a new child is added after being determined eligible, at any point in the previously determined eligibility period, a new 18-month eligibility period will begin for the entire household beginning the month the new child was added.

Example 1: Application submitted April 15th for a two-parent household with 1 child. Household is determined eligible for an 18-month eligibility period. Household reports a new child November 23rd. The new child is determined eligible, and the 18-month eligibility starts over effective November 1. Example 2: Application submitted April 15th for a one parent household with 2 children, however only one child is requesting assistance. Household is determined eligible for an 18-month eligibility period. In June, the household reports the second child needs child care. The new child is determined eligible, and the 18-month eligibility starts over effective June 1.