3.1 Family Co-payments

Lead Agencies must establish and periodically revise a sliding-fee scale for families receiving CCDF services that varies based on income and the size of the family to determine each family’s contribution (i.e., co-payment) and does not create a barrier to receiving CCDF assistance. In addition to income and the size of the family, the Lead Agency may use other factors as appropriate when determining family contributions/co-payments. Lead Agencies may not use price of care or amount of subsidy payment in determining co-payments. Lead Agencies must ensure that the total payment to a child care provider is not reduced because of family’s lowered or waived co-payment. 3.1.1 Family co-payment Lead Agencies may not charge any family more than 7% of a family’s gross income, regardless of the number of children participating in CCDF. a. What is the maximum percent of a family’s gross income any family could be charged as a co-payment? 7 percent b. Does the Lead Agency certify that their sliding fee scales are always based on income and family size (regardless of how many different scales they may use)? [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe: 3.1.2 Sliding fee scale Provide the CCDF co-payments for eligible families in the table(s) below according to family size for one child in care. a. Is the sliding fee scale set statewide? [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe how the sliding fee scale is set: b. Complete the table below. If the sliding fee scale is not set statewide, complete the table for the most populous locality: -- A B C D E F Family Size Lowest monthly income at initial eligibility where the family is first charged a co-pay (greater than $0). What is the monthly co-payment for a family of this size based on the income level in (A)? What percentage of income is the co- payment in (B)? Highest monthly income at initial eligibility where a family is charged a co-pay before a family is no longer eligible. What is the monthly co- payment for a family of this size based on the income level in (D)? What percentage of income is this co- payment in (E)? 1 2 1704.01 17.00 1.00 5373.00 334.00 6.50 3 2152.01 22.00 1.00 6637.00 412.00 6.50 4 2600.01 26.00 1.00 7902.00 491.00 6.50 5 3048.01 30.00 1.00 9166.00 570.00 6.50 c. What is the effective date of the sliding-fee scale(s)? October 1, 2024 d. Provide the link(s) to the sliding-fee scale(s): https://jobs.utah.gov/occ/provider/subsidy.html e. Does the Lead Agency allow providers to charge families additional amounts above the required co-payment in instances where the provider’s price exceeds the subsidy payment? [ ] No. [x] Yes. If yes: i. Provide the rationale for the Lead Agency’s policy to allow providers to charge families additional amounts above the required co-payment, including a demonstration of how the policy does not provide a barrier and promotes affordability and access for families: The Lead Agency allows providers to charge families additional amounts above the required copayment to meet the CCDF priority of ensuring access to child care for families and ensuring parent choice in selecting a provider. This gives families access to more providers. They may have other resources such as a relative or employer willing to help pay the additional costs of care. Additionally, fewer providers may choose to take families receiving assistance if they are prohibited from charging additional amounts above the copayment, which would restrict access to providers. ii. Provide data (including data on the size and frequency of such amounts) on the extent to which CCDF providers charge additional amounts to families: It is common among providers that accept child care subsidies to charge families for the difference between the price of care and the combined subsidy and copayment amount. For all childcare slots in the state, 73.1 percent are housed at providers that report that they charge for payments in excess of the subsidy and copayment, and another 11.2 percent are at providers that report that they sometimes require this charge. The charge is most common at Licensed Centers, with 78 percent charging, compared to Commercial Preschools (5.7 percent), Licensed Family providers (56.2 percent), and providers with a Residential Certificate (48.1 percent). In addition to charges in excess of the subsidy and copayment, registration fees add to families’ responsibility for the price of care. Registration fees are more common in the markets for center-based care than in the markets for home- based care. Registration fees are most likely to be charged at initial enrollment. At Licensed Centers, 89 percent of slots require an initial registration fee. At licensed Family providers, 46 percent of slots require an initial registration fee.