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428 (07/2026) Chapter 2:Eligibility • Section 6: Non-financial eligibility

Situations where child care is not covered

ERDC cannot cover child care in the following situations, even if the family qualifies for ERDC:

Š When free care is available, such as during school hours for school-aged children who are able to attend school.

Š When the request is for private school tuition

Š When the request is for care during public school hours for homeschooled children.

Travel time hours The ONE system automatically adds 25% to the approved child care hours to account for travel time between the child care provider and the caretaker’s approved activity (e.g., work, school, training, family well-being) as well as meal breaks. This travel time is added after the caretaker’s verified hours for work, school, sleep time, and overlapping hours for two-caretaker households are calculated.

Categorical ERDC and Expanded Child Welfare hours Families approved under Categorical ERDC or Expanded Child Welfare (EXP-CW) will receive a default part-time authorization of 108 monthly child care hours. Families may request a full-time (215 hours) or more than full-time (216–323 hours) authorization for any valid reason, excluding requests made solely to meet a provider’s minimum monthly hour requirement.

Standard ERDC hours

One-caretaker families Child care hours are authorized using the highest number of verified work or school hours provided, if the hours are reasonably anticipated to continue. Once entered in ONE, the system automatically evaluates for part-time or full- time authorization as follows:

Š 1-20 hours per week = 20 hours/week = Part-time authorization (108 hours with travel time)

Š 21-40 hours per week = 40 hours/week = Full-time authorization (215 hours with travel time) Authorizing the highest number of verified hours helps ensure the caretaker’s child care need is covered and allows flexibility to work varying shifts, potential overtime, and attend class without a child care disruption.

Two-caretaker families When there are two caretakers in the filing group, child care hours are only allowed when both caretakers are working or attending school. ODHS|OHA must review both caretakers’ schedules and count only overlapping work and school hours. Commute time is not included when looking at hours that overlap. Once the highest number of verified overlapping hours are entered in ONE, the system automatically evaluates for part-time or full-time authorization as follows:

Š 1-20 overlapping hours/week = 20 hours/week = Part-time authorization (108 hours with

Š travel time)

Š 21-40 overlapping hours/week = 40 hours/week = Full-time authorization (215 hours with travel time)

Verification of work schedule is not required for two-caretaker families, unless questionable.