A closed TANF case will be determined eligible, ineligible or potentially eligible for automatic transfer to the ELRC for a child care allowance.
eCIS refers eligible recipients to an ELRC. Clients whose TANF benefits are ending are eligible for automatic transfer to the ELRC.
Former TANF families have the opportunity to receive help with child care costs if the budget group:
Works at least 20 hours a week, or
Works at least 10 hours a week and attend training at least 10 hours a week; and
Has a child under 13 years of age, or
Has a child under 19 years of age with a physical and/or mental injury or impairment; and
Has income under 235% of the FPIG; and
Has a need for child care; and
Uses a child care provider who meets the ELRC's rules to be paid for child care.
NOTE: A family receiving a TANF NCE only may be eligible for a transfer to the ELRC, provided that all other criteria are met.
Discontinued TANF cases meeting the above criteria will automatically transfer to the ELRC except for the following:
Permanent move out of state;
Adult disqualification;
RESET – Failure to participate (Individual);
RESET – Failure to participate (Budget Group);
RESET – Voluntary reducing hours of employment.
A closed TANF budget group is also ineligible for automatic transfer to the ELRC if:
The employed budget group’s income exceeds 235% of the FPIG;
The case is discontinued for a sanction or non-compliance with eligibility conditions;
The case closed for reasons other than earned income.
If the TANF budget group is closed due to income in excess of 235% of the FPIG, the CAO will send a PA 162D Child Care Stop/Discontinue (717 Option 1) notice advising the budget group of their ineligibility for a child care payment through the ELRC and to contact the ELRC to find out if they qualify for help with child care costs under another program.
If the TANF budget group does not meet the automatic transfer criteria when TANF closes, the CAO will send a PA 1696 Child Care Potential Eligibility (714 Option 1) notice advising the budget group of their ineligibility for automatic transfer to the ELRC and to contact the ELRC within 30 days to find out if they qualify for help with child care costs.
Some cases are potentially eligible for Automatic Transfer to the ELRC. A potentially eligible case exists in either of the following situations:
The CAO does not have sufficient information about income, child care costs or arrangements to facilitate an automatic transfer.
The client does not have a current need for child care.
When TANF benefits end, the ELRC will send a letter of Potential Eligibility to the former TANF client. This letter will instruct the client to contact the ELRC within 30 days of the date on the letter if child care is needed immediately. If the former TANF client is eligible based on the above rules, the ELRC will pay for child care for the first 30 days after TANF closes, as long as the former TANF client contacts the ELRC within those first 30 days and enrolls the child(ren) with an eligible provider. The ELRC will schedule a face-to-face interview during the 30 days after the TANF closing date, but can extend this time frame for an additional 30 days if the client cannot attend the face-to-face interview due to a hardship. The ELRC may substitute a telephone contact for the face-to-face interview if a face-to-face interview cannot be scheduled without the client losing work time.
At the face-to-face meeting or telephone interview, the ELRC determines whether the eligible client’s provider meets the provider eligibility requirements. To be eligible to participate in the ELRC subsidy program, providers must:
Agree to participate in CareCheck and obtain Federal fingerprinting, regardless of relationship to the child in care.
Live outside of the child’s home if providing care in the child’s home.
Understand that in-home care may only occur during the hours of 9:00 PM to 6:00 AM, unless the ELRC receives documentation from a licensed physician or psychologist stating that care outside the home will result in a risk to the child’s health.
If the ELRC finds that the provider is not eligible, the former TANF client has 30 days from the date the ELRC finds the provider ineligible to find an eligible provider. The ELRC will assist the former TANF client with locating care and will pay the ineligible provider for up to 30 days while the parent looks for a new provider.
If the former TANF client is not eligible based on the above rules, the ELRC will advise the client that (s)/he has up to 183 days following the TANF closing date to meet the ELRC rules, contact the ELRC to be evaluated under the ELRC rules and, if eligible, receive help with child care from the ELRC as a former TANF client.
NOTE: It is important that these clients are made aware of the 183-day window. Clients who miss the 183-day window will be placed on a waiting list for access to the ELRC funds.
Exception: Under no circumstances will the ELRC pay a provider after (s)he fails CareCheck or is determined by the ELRC to be an ineligible provider as a result of the Federal fingerprinting results.
Reissued November 6, 2020, replacing November 24, 2014