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3.5 Copayments

A. Copayment Scale Copayment Requirement Under Federal Law Federal law (CCDBG Act of 2014 658E(c)(5)) requires most CCDF families to contribute to the cost of care through a copayment. The Department establishes and periodically revises a sliding fee scale (based on family size and income) that provides for cost-sharing for families receiving a subsidy accordingly. Families are required to pay a monthly copayment based on household income according to the sliding copayment scale in Appendix B, except TANF recipients. Monthly Copayment Structure and Calculation The copayment rates are a flat monthly rate per child receiving assistance up to three participating children. Monthly copayments start at $5 for families with countable income below the poverty guidelines, and increase as a family’s income increases, but are capped at 5% of gross countable income for any family. VaCMS Copayment Display and Assignment VaCMS calculates per-child copayment amounts. The copayment will begin the first full month of authorized child care and the full copayment must be assessed for the last month, whether it is a full month or a partial month, of authorized child care. The effective begin date of the copayment is recorded on the POSO, a copy of which the recipient receives. VaCMS will calculate the total family copayment and display the per child copayment once eligibility is determined. The total family copayment and the per-child copayment(s) will display in the VaCMS authorization screens. If the child has multiple providers, the provider with the most authorized hours of care has a copayment applied. No more than three children should have a copayment applied. Changes During Eligibility Period The Child Care Worker must act on changes reported by the recipient that would reduce the family’s copayment during the eligibility period. The copayment amount may be increased only at redetermination for an individual child. Situations That May Increase Total Copayment A family’s total copayment may increase in the following situations: • An additional child or children are added to the household prior to the redetermination period or • Child care services are authorized for a child or children that were not initially requested.

No family will pay copayments for more than three children, and copayments will not exceed 5% of income for any family.