Policy Effective: January 1, 2025

Upfront Child Care payments may be issued at the time a completed Child Care application is screened using customer statement.

Upfront Child Care will not be approved for any subsequent Child Care applications for 12 months from the month of issuance, if the verifications are not received within the 60-day application period.

Information obtained from the application must follow the Employment Support Child Care rules. See policy 210-3 .

The customer must be employed or have secured employment that is expected to start within two weeks of the application date.

If the customer reports joint custody of the child, take the customers statement of their child care need. Address custody for ongoing months of Child Care. Supplements can be issued once custody of the child is addressed.

Child care expenses reported by the customer, which are paid by a non-household member, can be used. Expenses can be excluded if it is not clarified or reported. Supplements can be issued once they are clarified with the customer.

For special needs children or two-parent households with a disabled parent, the customer will need to verify this information or have current verification on file from being previously approved.

If the special need has not been previously verified and the non-special need initial income limit is not exceeded, issue Upfront Child Care without the special needs indicators. Supplement the Child Care if verification is provided within 30 days of the application.

Upfront Child Care cannot be issued for Family Employment Program (FEP) Two-parent households, self-employed customers or training hours. If Upfront Child Care was issued for a customer who also applied for FEP assistance, the Child Care may be supplemented by the employment counselor (see policy 210-1 ).

Deductions for child support expenses cannot be deducted until it is verified by the customer.

All pending verifications must be received within 30 days of the application for ongoing benefits without proration. Failure to return the verification will result in the closure of the Child Care program.

An overpayment will not be submitted if the received verifications show the customer was ineligible for Child Care assistance.

A normal 365-day eligibility review period will be set when issuing Upfront Child Care. The first month of the eligibility lock-in period, is the first full month of income and/or benefits after ongoing approval.

If the given information on the application is verified based on electronic or imaged verifications on the case, determine eligibility for Employment Support Child Care.