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3.4. Income and Assets Eligibility Requirements

A. Income Eligibility Requirements

For the Transitional, Fee, SNAP E&T, and Head Start Wrap-Around child care programs, families that have at least one child who is five years of age or younger and has not yet started kindergarten are financially eligible if their incomes do not exceed 85 percent of the state median income as identified in Appendix A. A family described in this subdivision shall be eligible for assistance for each age-eligible child (age eligibility outlined in subsections 3.3. G of this guidance). Eligibility is based on the child’s age and school status at the time of application, regardless of anticipated changes to age/school enrollment during the 12-month period.

The income eligibility scale established by the Department must be used for determining financial eligibility for all other families in the Transitional, Fee, SNAP E&T, and Head Start Wrap-Around child care programs. See State Income Eligibility Scale for Child Care – Appendix A.

B. Metropolitan Statistical Area Groupings

Localities are grouped by local median income with some adjustments made for actual cost of care. In using the State Income Eligibility Scale, VaCMS will determine into which group the LDSS falls.

C. Determining Family Unit

The applicant is considered the head of the household. If the applicant in a two-parent household leaves the household, a new application must be processed to determine eligibility for the new family unit. If determined to be eligible, this family maintains current services and should not placed on the waitlist.

Household Members

The following individuals living in the household must be included in the family unit and shall be entered as household members in VaCMS:

1. Parents including: i) Biological parents including the father of a child born out-of-wedlock, if paternity can be established; ii) Adoptive parents; iii) Stepparent; iv) Legal guardian(s); v) Adult(s) standing in loco parentis for children under age 18; and vi) Persons cohabiting with the natural or adoptive parent of a child under age 18. 2. All the parents’ children under age 18. 3. Spouses of an adult standing in loco parentis.

Household Members Temporarily Absent from the Home A parent, guardian, or child who is temporarily absent from the home shall be included in the family unit unless the absence period is expected to exceed 60 consecutive days.