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52 • Example: A family is approved for 90 days of job search on July 1, 2025. The case closes effective October 2025 due to failure to verify employment or participation in an approved education or training activity. Since the 12-month period began on July 1, 2025, this family would not be eligible to receive child care services under job search as the only activity again until July 1, 2026, unless they qualify under a different approved activity.

Localities must evaluate the reason for case closure along with the case approval effective date by reviewing the EDG (Eligibility Determination Group) Summary page in VaCMS and/or the case approval Notice of Action. The case approval date is used to determine the start of the 12-month period during which the family is not eligible to receive services based solely on job search.

Similarly, at redetermination, families may receive a 90-day conditional approval if they report job search as the only activity and can verify that job loss occurred within the past 90 days. To qualify, the job loss must have occurred within 90 days prior to the first day of the redetermination month. Case managers must verify and document the customer’s employment termination date and assess their eligibility for the 90-day conditional approval during redetermination.

The 90-day period for the conditionally approved case will be determined based on the scenarios outlined below. The start date of this 90-day period will be displayed on the Notice of Action (NOA): • Intake Case Action: The 90-day period starts from the case certification date in intake. • Redetermination: The 90-day period starts from the beginning of the next 12-month eligibility period, which is the day after the case redetermination due date. • Extension: The 90-day period for the extension will begin the day after the initial 90-day period ends.

A Request for Verification form is automatically generated upon approval to notify the family of applicable verifications to submit before the 90 days. The applicant must submit proof of employment, education, or training enrollment, such as pay stubs, employer statements, self-employment records, or school/training schedules.

VaCMS will automatically track and alert caseworkers 45 days before the 90-day period expires if no employment or education information has been entered. At this time, a Communication Form will be automatically generated and mailed to the family to notify them of the approaching deadline and remind them to provide verification or request an extension. If an extension is not requested, failure to secure employment and/or enroll in an education or training program by the end of the 90 days will result in case closure with a 30-day closure notice.

Extensions

If families require additional time beyond the initial 90-day period, they may qualify for a job search extension under “extraordinary circumstances,” which generally include: