Policy Effective: November 1, 2024

Customers receiving Employment Support Child Care (ESCC) who are experiencing allowable, temporary changes will remain eligible for continued Child Care assistance at the same benefit level for the remainder of the certification period if all the following are met:

The customer received an ongoing ESCC payment

The change meets one of the following allowable change definitions:

A time-limited (temporary) absence from work. This could include maternity leave, bed rest, or other medical issues of the customer or immediate family if the customer is responsible for their care. Immediate family is defined as spouse, child, or parent of the customer.

Native American families are exempt from the immediate family member definition as long as the adult or child is a member of a federally recognized tribe.

Refugee families are exempt from the immediate family member definition as long as the adult or child is of the same ethnicity, culture, country of origin, religion, language, and/or nationality.

Temporary fluctuations in earnings, such as not meeting minimum work requirements for all employment due to an employer based reduction in hours or seasonal changes (e.g., summer break for teachers, IRS, etc.).

Self-employed customers may be eligible if their earnings fall under the minimum work or wage requirement. Review these changes with the state program specialist.

A holiday or break in a customer’s educational or training schedule. While on a break from education or training activities, the customer may choose not to use their months against the 24-month training limit.

Any reduction in work, training, or education hours, as long as the parent is still working or attending a training or educational program.

Loss of employment or attendance at a training or educational program for one or both parents.

When a parent moves into or out of the home, which changes the single-parent/two-parent criteria, the household will remain eligible based on the locked in participation level for the remainder of the certification period.

When an additional child is added to the Child Care benefit within the 365-day certification See policy 735-4 Extending Child Care Reviews .