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Vermont Department for Children and Families Reach Up Eligibility Rules Economic Services Division 2200 36

PR&R agreement, then that parent is the eligible parent.

3. When the parents equally share physical responsibility for the child pursuant to a PR&R agreement, then the parent who applies first is the eligible parent.

4. When the parents equally share physical responsibility for the child in the absence of a PR&R agreement, then the parent who applies first is the eligible parent.

5. Custody situation and eligible parent table:

Custody Situation Eligible Parent One parent has sole legal and physical responsibility pursuant to a Parental Rights and Responsibilities (PR&R) Agreement The parent with sole legal and physical responsibility is the eligible parent. One parent has physical responsibility for the child more than half of the time pursuant to a PR&R agreement. The parent with physical responsibility for more than half of the time is the eligible parent. The parents equally share physical responsibility for the child pursuant to a PR&R agreement. The parent who applies first is the eligible parent. The parents equally share physical responsibility for the child in the absence of a PR&R agreement. The parent who applies first is the eligible parent.

c. When a parent, who does not have physical responsibility for a child more than half of the time, but the child is spending at least 15 nights per month or the equivalent, in that parent’s household, is the only parent to apply for Reach Up benefits, that parent will remain the eligible parent until the other parent applies for benefits and claims the child as a member of the household.

d. When there is a dispute between the parents as to the division of physical responsibility, in the absence of a PR&R agreement, the first parent to apply for Reach Up benefits will remain the eligible parent unless the other parent provides sufficient evidence to verify that the child primarily lives in their household.

1. Adequate verification evidence includes:

i. Current childcare records;

ii. Current school records;

iii. Current medical records; or

iv. Collateral statements from neighbors.

e. When adequate verification has been submitted by the second parent that is sufficient to prove that the