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July 1, 2026

140 must offer the parent an authorization for up to the same number of hours as the child’s previous authorization, unless the criteria in Section 17.1.1 for an Assessment Results Authorization are met. Parents can change providers during an Activity Break Period, the same as all other authorizations. Changes during a month when the parent is in an Activity Break Period are still subject to the policy in Section 17.3.

This section last updated 10/1/2023

Section 17.2.1 Activity Break Period Authorization Hours Parents are not eligible for an increase in hours (including additional school closed days [see 16.1.1.4.2]) during an Activity Break Period. This also includes a parent’s change in schedule in a two-parent or three-generation household.

In a two-parent or three-generation household in which more than one (1) parent is participating in an Activity Break Period, the local agency must maintain authorizations at the same number of hours until all parents are again engaged and participating in approved activities. Authorized hours may be reduced at the parent’s request, but authorized hours cannot be increased even if there is a change in one (1) parent’s schedule or other change resulting in an authorization assessment (see 17.1.1 and 17.1.2) during the Activity Break Period.

If a parent is in a TBRK and an eligible child is added to the case, the TBRK end date can be extended to the new renewal date (see 5.3.1.2) for any eligible children on the case with a current authorization. Agency workers must case comment when a TBRK end date is extended to the new renewal date (see 12.2)

Example 1: Cora is in a Temporary Break Period (TBRK), and her spouse, Finn, is in an Approved Activity Search Period (ACTS). Their child, Leo, has an authorization for 20 hours per week. Finn obtains new employment and provides financial verification showing he works 40 hours per week, while Cora remains in a TBRK period. Leo’s authorized hours remain at 20 hours per week (or less at the parent’s request) during Cora’s TBRK period because authorized hours cannot be increased during a TBRK period.

Example 2: Penelope is in an ACTS period. Her child, Hazel, has a school-year authorization of 10 hours per week for before and after school care. When school lets out for the summer, Penelope wants to send Hazel to the full-time summer camp program at her child care provider and is requesting 40 hours per week based on her previous work schedule. However, Hazel is not eligible for an increase in hours due to Penelope being in an ACTS period. Penelope can use the 10 hours per week based on Hazel’s previous authorization for summer camp because it is at the same provider and location, but she will need to pay the rest of the child care cost out-of-pocket.