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Child Care Scholarship Policy Manual 108

3.2.4 CUSTODY VERIFICATION When custody is in question, verification may be required. Acceptable methods of verification include, but are not limited to: o Legal court documentation showing custody or guardianship OR o Verification of custody/guardianship via CAPSS. o If in the TANF budget, custody has already been verified, CHIP may be used as verification. Note: Signed, notarized statement from one or both parents will no longer be accepted as proof of temporary or permanent guardianship/custody.

When custody is split between the mother and the father, only one parent may apply for child care. Whichever parent has 51% of physical custody should apply. In instances where the mother and father were never married and thus does not have custody documents, the custody will default to the mother. Regardless if custody is split 50/50, only one parent may apply for child care See MISUSE OF SERVICES

The applicant that is applying for child care must have physical and legal custody of the child in need of care. If the child in need of child care is in an open SNAP case under another parent or guardian, that person must apply for child care for that child or the child must be removed from that open SNAP case before the child care application can be processed.

3.2.5 SIGNATURE REQUIREMENTS It is encouraged that the child care application be signed and dated by the applicant before the application is processed and before services are rendered. However, this is not required if all other eligibility criteria is met.

Note: When applying through the benefits portal, the system records a submission date along with the printed name of the client. This satisfies the signature requirements.