2.1 Reducing Barriers to Family Enrollment and Redetermination

Lead Agency enrollment and redetermination policies may not unduly disrupt parents’ employment, education, or job training activities to comply with the Lead Agency’s or designated local entity’s requirements. Lead Agencies have broad flexibility to design and implement the eligibility practices that reduce barriers to enrollment and redetermination. Examples include developing strategies to inform families and their providers of an upcoming redetermination and the information that will be required of the family, pre-populating subsidy renewal forms, having parents confirm that the information is accurate, and/or asking only for the information necessary to make an eligibility redetermination. In addition, Lead Agencies can offer a variety of family-friendly methods for submitting documentation for eligibility redetermination that considers the range of needs for families in accessing support (e.g., use of languages other than English, access to transportation, accommodation of parents working non-traditional hours). 2.1.1 Eligibility practices to reduce barriers to enrollment a. Does the Lead Agency implement any of the following eligibility practices to reduce barriers at the time of initial eligibility determination? Check all that apply and describe those elements checked. i. [x] Establishing presumptive eligibility while eligibility is being determined. Describe the policy, including the populations benefiting from the policy, and identify how long the period of presumptive eligibility is: Families applying with new employment (less than 90 days,) may attest to their new employment information. An initial eligibility determination is made, and the family is allowed 60 days to provide income verification. Families applying for TANF are approved for 14 days to establish an Individual Responsibility Plan. Families experiencing homelessness according to the McKinney-Vento definition are considered eligible regardless of participation in approved activities. ii. [x] Leveraging eligibility from other public assistance programs. Describe: DCYF shares an eligibility system with DSHS and can use verification submitted for other programs contained within this shared system to meet eligibility requirements when applicable. iii. [x] Coordinating determinations for children in the same household (while still ensuring each child receives 12 months of eligibility). Describe: Families who have received protective services within the last 6 months and have been referred to Working Connections Child Care receive a 12-month eligibility period. If another child is referred into the same household, the household will receive another 12- month eligibility iv. [ ] Self-assessment screening tools for families. Describe: v. [ ] Extended office hours (evenings and/or weekends). vi. [x] Consultation available via phone. vii. [x] Other. Describe the Lead Agency policies to process applications efficiently and make timely eligibility determinations: DCYF maintains a ￿First Contact Resolution￿ process which requires staff to utilize the following in order: Family provided documents, information contained within our internal systems and available databases, information obtained through verification by phone, and information obtained by written request. viii. [ ] None. b. Does the Lead Agency use an online subsidy application? [x] Yes. [ ] No. If no, describe why an online application is impracticable. c. Does the Lead Agency use different policies for families receiving TANF assistance? [x] Yes. If yes, describe the policies: Families approved on TANF with an individual responsibility plan are approved for child care without needing an activity such as employment or education. Families approved TANF are not subject to overpayments unless it is related to fraud. [ ] No. 2.1.2 Preventing disruption of eligibility activities a. Identify, where applicable, the Lead Agency’s procedures and policies to ensure that parents do not have their employment, education, or job training unduly disrupted to comply with the State’s/Territory’s or designated local entity’s requirements for the redetermination of eligibility. Check all that apply. i. [x] Advance notice to parents of pending redetermination. ii. [x] Advance notice to providers of pending redetermination. iii. [x] Pre-populated subsidy renewal form. iv. [x] Online documentation submission. v. [ ] Cross-program redeterminations. vi. [ ] Extended office hours (evenings and/or weekends). vii. [x] Consultation available via phone. viii. [x] Leveraging eligibility from other public assistance programs. ix. [ ] Other. Describe: b. Does the Lead Agency use different policies for families receiving TANF assistance? [x] Yes. If yes, describe the policies: Families approved for TANF with an individual responsibility plan can be approved for child care without needing an additional activity such as employment or education. Families approved for TANF are not subject to overpayments unless it is related to fraud. [ ] No.