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A parent who is absent from the home due to active duty in the military services is considered part of the family unit and will be counted as a household member even if they are expected to be out of the household for more than 60 days.

D. Determining Income Eligibility

VaCMS will determine income eligibility by measuring the family unit’s countable gross monthly income and family size against the percentage of the federal poverty guidelines for their locality listed in Appendix A OR against 85% of State Median Income, for those families with a child who is five years of age or younger and has not yet started kindergarten (see Section 3.4 A).

Families whose countable gross monthly income for their family size is at or below the applicable income parameters are income eligible for child care subsidy.

For families that qualify under HB407 criteria: • The case manager will utilize the income entered into VaCMS under the Medicaid case, regardless how old it is. • Families receiving WIC will use a self-attestation form completed by the client. • Families will be assessed at the 250% Federal Poverty Guidelines for all program categories. (See Section 3.4L). EXCEPTION: If the applicant or current recipient is an individual who is not financially responsible for the child under Virginia law, income eligibility is determined in VaCMS by measuring the family unit’s countable gross monthly income and family size against 250% of the federal poverty guidelines OR 85% State Median Income with a child who is five years of age or younger and has not yet started kindergarten. Biological parents (including the father of a child born out-of-wedlock, if paternity can be established), adoptive parents, stepparents, and a person cohabiting with a natural or adoptive parent are financially responsible for the child under Virginia law. E. Countable Income

Income is considered countable if it is not on the list of disregarded incomes or deductions.

In determining income eligibility, VaCMS will include all gross earned and unearned income received by the family unit and entered into the system by the Child Care Worker except certain types of disregarded income, deductions and payments listed in subsections F and G below.

Verification of Income

Parents are required to provide verification of income. If pay stubs are the type of verification, the most recent pay stubs available must be used, unless the client is out of work on temporary leave, then the most recent 90 days of pay stubs prior to the leave beginning may be used. On-line pay stubs or letters from employers are acceptable.