To be eligible for a child care payment, the TANF budget group must include an individual participating in an approved work-related activity and a TANF dependent child or a child who would qualify as a TANF dependent child except for receipt of SSI or Foster Care benefits. See Chapter 105, Category. 55 Pa. Code § 168.17(1) 55 Pa. Code § 168.17(2) 55 Pa. Code § 168.18(a)
Example 1: TANF - C/ES parent/caretaker and C/EC child would be potentially eligible for child care.
Example 2: TANF - C/ES parent/caretaker with a C/EC and C2/EC both children would be potentially eligible for child care.
Example 3: TANF - C/NA or C/NS parent/caretaker with a C/EC child would be ineligible for child care.
Example 4: SSI - J/ES parent/caretaker with a C/EC child would be ineligible for child care.
Example 5: SSI - C/ES parent/caretaker and SSI/EC child would be eligible for child care.
Employed TANF recipients are eligible for child care payments beginning with the first day of employment. 55 Pa. Code § 168.1(b)(3)(ii)
To maintain eligibility for child care, the budget group participating in a paid work-related activity must pay the required copayment determined by the CCIS. 55 Pa. Code § 168.20
NOTE: Vocation-Specific Work Experience (VWE) is considered the same as Paid Work Experience (PWE) and counts toward the TANF grant. Gross monthly countable income including VWE is used to calculate the child care co-payment.
The CAO will promptly refer eligible child care requests to CCIS and issue a potential eligibility notice which will allow CCIS to issue a child care payment based on required time frames for authorization of special allowances for supportive services. 55 Pa. Code § 165.45
When the CAO receives an oral request (including those made in person or by phone) or written request for child care, the CAO will issue a written decision on potential Child Care Eligibility or child care ineligibility no later than 15 calendar days following the request.
The CAO will: 55 Pa. Code § 168.1(d) 55 Pa. Code § 168.1(e) 55 Pa. Code § 165.43
Enter into the case notes the date an oral or written request for the child care allowance was received.
Set a control to ensure that the request is acted on within the required time frame.
Promptly inform the client of the verification needed to determine eligibility for child care and assist the client, such as making collateral contacts, to obtain necessary verification.
The CAO will inform the individual that: 55 Pa. Code § 168.1(b)(3)
Advance payments by CCIS are available to ensure access to the child care provider of choice;
NOTE: The advance payment requirement does not apply to vendor payments for child care.
CCIS will not pay the portion of a child care charge for which there is another payment source such as: educational grants or loans specifically restricted to the payment of child care expenses, payment of child care expenses by Road to Economic Self-Sufficiency through Employment and Training (RESET), Project Operators and public or private foundations. 55 Pa. Code § 165.41(b)
Subsidized child care may not be used as a substitute for a public funded educational program, such as kindergarten or a specialized treatment program. 55 Pa. Code § 168.18(e)
The client has a right to appeal a child care eligibility decision made by the CAO. 55 Pa. Code § 168.101
The Department will provide child care information to applicants and recipients whether through automated notices or written letters as follows: See Chapter 177, Notices. 55 Pa. Code § 168.101 55 Pa. Code § 133.4(a) 55 Pa. Code § 133.4(b)
TANF budget closing - Letter of potential child care eligibility under former TANF is sent. The letter advises the individual to contact the local CCIS to find out if they qualify for help in child care costs.
TANF and FS budget opening - Letter of potential child care eligibility is sent. The letter advises the individual to contact the local CCIS to find out if they qualify for help in child care costs.
Child Care ineligibility – TANF and FS budget is opened and determined ineligible for child care. The notice advises the individual to contact the local CCIS to find out if they qualify for help in child care costs under another program.
Child Care Stop/Discontinue – TANF and FS budget previously determined eligible is now ineligible; notice for child care ineligible is sent. The notice advises the individual to contact the local CCIS to find out if they qualify for help with child care costs under another program.
A manual PA/FS 162 notice is sent to deny a child care request from an ineligible household when one of the above notices would not apply. The CAO will continue to use the PA/FS 162 notice until a revised PA/CC 162 becomes available.
Example: Mr. and Mrs. V and their 12- and 15-year-old children are active TANF. Mrs. V participates in a 30-hour-per-week approved work-related program, and Mr. V is temporally incapacitated and provides child care. At the time of application a notice of child care ineligibility was provided. On Nov. 10, Mrs. V called the County Assistance Office (CAO) reporting that Mr. V wants to volunteer to attend 20 hours per week of training and is requesting child care for her now 13-year-old child. The CAO reviewed the child care eligibility with Mrs. V and she reports that both children are in good health and not in need of any specialized care. The CAO narrates Mrs. V’s child care request in the case comments and sends a PA/FS 162 with the reason for denying child care with the proper citation.
An eligible child must be:
a TANF dependent child or a child who would qualify as a TANF dependent child except for receipt of SSI or foster care benefits. See Chapter 105, Category; 55 Pa. Code § 168.17(1)
NOTE: A child who receives TANF as an essential person (EE) is not an eligible child for TANF child care purposes.
under 13 years of age; 55 Pa. Code § 168.17(2)(i)
13 years of age or older but under 19 years of age and not physically or mentally capable of caring for himself as verified by a physician or licensed psychologist; 55 Pa. Code § 168.17(2)(ii)
NOTE: If documentation is available for a child 13 years of age or older but less than 19 years with a developmental age of less than 13 years as verified by a physician or licensed psychologist, enter this information into the case narrative and on the CADISB screen. This process will prevent unnecessary child care delays and allow payment at a higher rate through CCIS.
age-appropriately immunized unless one of the following applies (See Section 183.4): 55 Pa. Code § 168.51
the parent/caretaker objects to immunizations based on religious grounds; or
the child’s medical condition contraindicates immunizations as verified by a physician.
If any child in the budget passes child care eligibility, then eCIS will transfer the case to CCIS through the Pennsylvania’s Enterprise to Link Information for Children across Networks (PELICAN).
The CAO will determine whether child care is needed to enable a budget group member to participate in an approved work-related activity. 55 Pa. Code § 168.1 55 Pa. Code § 168.18
Child care payments made by CCIS may be continued for entry into, or during breaks in approved work-related activities for up to 30 days: 55 Pa. Code § 168.18(c)
The budget group is not limited to one child care provider per day.
The CAO will inform recipients who are in need of child care about the following: 55 Pa. Code § 168.1(b)
The availability of child care allowances through CCIS to enable the parent/caretaker to participate in an approved work-related activity; 55 Pa. Code § 168.1
That CCIS provides help in finding and selecting a child care provider, and referring the client when such help is needed; 55 Pa. Code § 168.1(b)(2) 55 Pa. Code § 168.1(g)
The requirement, as a condition of eligibility, to cooperate in providing necessary information and verification to establish child care eligibility; 55 Pa. Code § 168.41
The client responsibility to pay the child care provider and pay any charges above the maximum allowance as determined by CCIS; 55 Pa. Code § 168.71
The need to make alternate back-up/child care arrangements in advance for illness or emergencies;
That a Short-Term Child Care for TANF Families is available due to illness, emergencies or when the child care provider that normally provides care is closed; (See Section 183.26)
Time frames for notification of eligibility for child care payments; See Section 183.21. 55 Pa. Code § 168.1(e) 55 Pa. Code § 165.45
Child care is not needed when a parent/caretaker who is not participating in an approved work-related activity is living in the home, unless: 55 Pa. Code § 168.18(b)
the custodial parent is participating in a Department of Public Welfare or a Department of Education Pregnant and Parenting Youth Program; OR 55 Pa. Code § 168.18(b)(2)
The child is at risk because of suspected child abuse; OR 55 Pa. Code § 168.18(b)(3)
the parent/caretaker is physically or mentally incapable of providing child care, as verified by a physician or licensed psychologist; 55 Pa. Code § 168.18(b)(1)
NOTE: The CAO worker must document in the eCIS case narrative that child care is needed because one parent/caretaker has been verified to be physically or mentally unable to provide child care while the other parent/caretaker is participating in work or a work-related activity. The CAO must continue to record this information in the eCIS case narrative at application, renewal and when an AMR is completed or updated.
If the biological or adoptive parent, specified relative or legal guardian of the child is the owner/operator of a child care business where care is available for the child. 55 Pa. Code § 168.18(d)
Availability of child care for a short-term change in circumstance
Short-Term Child Care for TANF Families is available to qualified TANF families who are enrolled in the subsidized child care program and in the need of alternate back-up care when the child’s normal provider is unavailable. Situations include, but are not limited, to the following:
Scheduled school closings;
Sick days;
Weather-related closings.
TANF families that are child care eligible and not receiving child care services because the children are in school while the parent/caretaker is attending an employment and training activity or working may require child care on an intermittent basis as follows:
Drop-in Care -- An occasional need for one or two days due to school holiday or teacher in-service days;
Extended School Breaks – Longer period of closing due, but not limited to holidays, spring breaks or strikes;
Emergency Care – Immediate and unplanned school closings (i.e. snow days) or sick care.
The CAO or contractor assists the parent in completing a short-term care referral form when a parent receiving TANF expresses a possible need for short-term child care. The completed form is faxed to the CCIS. TANF child care enrollment regulations and requirement rules apply for short term care, as follows:
an individual is required to complete a face-to-face or telephone interview;
neighbor/relative child care providers need to complete the required forms and establish provider agreements;
Individuals may be responsible for a co-payment for this care.
NOTE: Short-term care is not available to individuals receiving child care under former TANF, individuals in employment retention with a contractor, SSI or FS-only families.
To qualify for child care, the minor parent who has care and control of his/her child and is participating in an approved educational program must reside in the home of the parent of the minor parent or caretaker unless otherwise exempt from the minor parent rule as discussed in Section 110.6. The minor parent must:
be a member of the TANF budget group;
volunteer for RESET;
be participating in an educational program through ETP;
have an approved Agreement of Mutual Responsibility (AMR) stating the minor parent will continue to attend and complete high school;
have a separate AMR completed and signed by the adult who is the TANF payment name;
The AMR must also address the need for child care and the location of the child care provider for the minor parent’s child during school attendance.
See Appendix A for examples of households that include a minor parent.
Reissued September 28, 2011 replacing January 31, 2012