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Child Care Subsidy Policy October 1, 2024 37 income guidelines, , but falls under 85% of the current State Median Income (SMI) the State is required to provide a graduated phase out of assistance. 4.7.1.1 When the situation occurs as described above, the Child Care Resource and Referral Agency (CCR&R) will further assess the household income based upon the current SMI. If the household income falls below 85% of the SMI, the CCR&R Case Manager must enter an “Over Income Policy Exception” in PATH. The “Over Income Policy Exception” can be found on the same PATH screen with the “Medical Policy Exception.” Upon approval of the “Over Income Policy Exception”, the Division of Early Care and Education will assist the Case Manager with calculating the Child Care Fee. 4.7.2. Illness: In certain extraordinary situations child care may be approved for children under the age of six years in the following circumstances: a family member's release from hospitalization; a recent determination of a temporary or permanent disability of a parent; physician ordered bed rest during pregnancy; medical treatment for a terminal illness. Exceptions are granted in order to give the family time to prepare and plan for coping with the illness and the effects of treatment and finding alternate child care arrangements/assistance. 4.7.2.1 Hospitalization, Surgery, and Post Hospitalization/Surgery Recovery For currently active cases, child care may be provided when a family member is hospitalized, requires in or out-patient surgery, and/or released from the hospital. In cases of hospitalization/surgery recovery (for hospital admissions exceeding 48 continuous hours), documentation shall include, but not be limited to: A. A discharge plan and diagnosis and a treatment plan if one is developed to follow up the discharge plan. B. The anticipated length of time for recovery. C. The documentation shall be related to the parent’s illness or the illness of a sibling for which hospitalization was required. D. The approval period is limited to six weeks. If a longer recovery period is indicated by the physician in which minimal care and supervision of a child cannot be provided, the approval may be for a period not to exceed six months. E. Post hospitalization/surgery recovery approvals will be considered only for an active child care case and will not be considered for a new application or intake. 4.7.2.2 Recent Determination of Temporary or Permanent Disability. A disability exception approval will not exceed 6 months. This category of policy exception is for one time only per child care case or same family. The exception is granted in order to give the family time to prepare and plan for coping with the disability and finding alternate child care arrangements/assistance in cases of newly determined