Page 74

Vermont Department for Children and Families Reach Up Eligibility Rules Economic Services Division 2200 73

a. The standard employment expense deduction of $90 is used in place of the amount of actual expenses for:

1. Taxes;

2. Insurance;

3. Retirement;

4. Union dues and fees; and

5. Other reasonable employment expenses.

b. Only one standard employment expense deduction is allowed per participant with earned income. c. This deduction shall be applied to the following: 1. Subsidized earned income in determining continuing eligibility; and 2. Earned income of a participant whose needs are not included in the Reach Up household, but whose income and resources are counted.

d. The Department shall not simultaneously apply both the standard employment expense deduction and the earned income disregard to the earned income of any participant.

2252.2 Dependent Care Expenses (08/01/2024, 23-28)

a. A deduction from the earned income of a Reach Up household member is allowed to cover the cost of care for a household member, who is a disabled or seriously ill adult, when all the following conditions are met: 1. The care is necessary to allow the Reach Up parent/caretaker to accept or retain employment, and the hours of care are reasonably related to the parent's/caretaker's employment; 2. The care is not provided by a member of the same Reach Up household or by the disabled or seriously ill adult's spouse; 3. The disabled or seriously ill adult's spouse is unavailable or unable to provide the necessary care; 4. The provider of care is at least 16 years old; and 5. The Reach Up household member claiming the deduction has provided a statement signed by the provider of care about the hours and cost of care.

b. A deduction from the earned income of a Reach Up household member is allowed to cover dependent care payments for a child, who is not a member of the Reach Up household, but for whom a Reach Up parent/caretaker is legally liable and the following requirements are met:

1. The child and the child care facility must meet the requirements in Reach Up Services rules 2309- 2309.3; and