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3.12. Eligibility Period

The eligibility period for TANF (non-VIEW), transitional child care, Fee Program, and Head Start begins with the effective date of the approval of the child care application. The eligibility period for VIEW and SNAP E&T participants begins with the date of application/referral from the VIEW or SNAP E&T program. The exceptions to the effective date of the eligibility period described in section 3.2 may apply. Eligibility will be redetermined, as described in section 3.15, in the final month of the eligibility period.

Recipients will be eligible for child care subsidy and services for a minimum of 12 months before eligibility is redetermined unless: 1. The recipient family’s countable income exceeds 85% of state median income; 2. There is a finding that the recipient committed fraud or intentional program violation; 3. The recipient is no longer a resident of Virginia; 4. The recipient requests that their case be closed; or 5. The recipient family was conditionally approved under one of the two scenarios described in Section 3.2E and did not provide required verifications within the 90-day period.

Recipients of TANF, Head Start, or SNAP E&T child care subsidy who subsequently become eligible for Transitional or Fee child care within their 12-month period of eligibility shall have their eligibility program category changed without an increase to any existing copayment amount. Any changes made to the eligibility program category shall not extend the current eligibility period. When there is a change in the eligibility program category, the Child Care Worker must take appropriate action to update the program funding category on any existing authorization(s) and validate the copayment amount on the authorization(s).

A. Changes During Eligibility Period

Aside from the situations described above, changes experienced during the eligibility period do not affect recipients’ eligibility. Recipients retain eligibility and should continue to receive services at least at the same level, regardless of: • Any change in residency within the State (refer to section 3.9 regarding case transfers); • A any eligible child turning 13 or 18 (child with special needs) years of age; • A change in family income, if that family income does not exceed 85% of state median income; • Any temporary change or a cessation of work or attendance at a training or education program. During the recipient’s eligibility period, the LDSS shall record any reported changes in VaCMS, but action will not be taken that would reduce the recipient’s authorized child care services or increase their per- child copayment amount. Refer to section 3.9 regarding reported changes.

B. Copayment Changes

During the eligibility period, the Child Care Worker must act on any changes reported by the recipient that would reduce the family’s copayment amount. Per-child copayment fees may not be increased for any family during the eligibility period. A family may be assessed an additional per-child copayment if an additional child or children are added to the household, or services are requested for an additional child and the family has not already been assessed a copayment for the maximum three children.