10:15-3.3 WFNJ payment policies

(a) WFNJ/TANF child care payments are available for care of an infant, toddler, preschool child, school- aged child or child with special needs in various types of arrangements. Full-time and part-time care are also available for eligible children of WFNJ participants who are employed full-time and in receipt of cash assistance. These families shall also be required to contribute to the cost of care as delineated in N.J.A.C. 10:90-5.2. (b) WFNJ/TANF families shall receive child care services through the WFNJ program under the following additional circumstances: 1. Payment for care of school-aged children, which is normally limited to part-time or after school care during the school year, shall be made at the full-day rates during summer vacations and recognized vacations and holidays during the school year, for example, Christmas, spring vacation, and so forth. 2. Alternate care arrangements shall be provided by another approved provider for a child of an eligible participant when authorized by the CCR&R when the child is sick and primary care is unavailable and for drop in care. 3. Payment shall be made for the cost of transportation of a child to and from a day care center in accordance with N.J.A.C. 10:90-5.4. i. In addition to the maximum allowable rate for care, when transportation or the cost of transporting a child to and from a licensed child care center or day camp is not available from any other source, the CCR&R shall allow the cost of transportation as prescribed by WFNJ standard child care transportation rate. ii. When it is essential for physical health and safety, the cost of transporting a disabled child to and from the registered family child care provider shall be authorized. 4. Where child care arrangements would otherwise be lost and the subsequent activity is scheduled to begin within that period, a bridge payment shall be made for a period not to exceed one month (defined as five weeks to accommodate calendar months of up to 31 days for operational purposes). (c) The duration of payment for WFNJ child care benefits routinely available to participants in a WFNJ work activity is as follows: 1. Employed WFNJ participants are eligible to receive child care benefits: i. While the participant is employed and receiving TANF benefits; or ii. For an extended period after the commencement of employment that results in the ineligibility for WFNJ/TANF. 2. The following apply to payment for child care provided in special circumstances: i. Payment shall not exceed the maximum rates established by the Commissioner and promulgated by the DFD (N.J.A.C. 10:15-10), and shall be limited to 60 calendar days unless extended upon request and with the approval of the DFD. This payment shall be made by the CSSA. ii. Criteria for an extension of child care in special circumstances shall include, but not be limited to, a continuation of the serious conditions which precipitated the original request for the child care, if there is an indication that the conditions will improve imminently in order to permit the parent or caregiver to resume full-time care of the child(ren). iii. All decisions for extension of child care shall be made on a case-by-case basis. History HISTORY: Amended by R.2005 d.77, effective February 22, 2005. See: 36 N.J.R. 4882(a), 37 N.J.R. 630(c). In (b), substituted "child" for "day" following "registered family " in 3ii. Amended by R.2009 d.18, effective January 5, 2009. See: 40 N.J.R. 2637(b), 41 N.J.R. 226(b). In (b)2 and (b)3i, substituted "CCR&R" for "UCCA". Annotations Notes Chapter Notes 2025 FOR THE WFNJ PROGRAM