GENERAL PROVISIONS
§ 168.1. Policy on payment of child care.
(a) To the extent funds are available, payment for child care will be made to enable the parent/caretaker to participate in work-related activities. To qualify for a child care payment, the individual must be eligible to receive cash assistance, including persons who do not receive a cash payment due to the minimum monthly check requirement or due to a month of zero cash payment. Child care payments are considered a reimbursement for past or future child care expenses for food stamp eligibility purposes.
(b) The Department will promptly inform a recipient of food stamps or cash assistance who is in need of child care about the following:
(1) The types and locations of child care providers.
(2) The services available from the CCIS, for help in finding and selecting a child care provider.
(3) Child care payments will be paid in advance of the date that payment is required by the provider, consistent with the requirements and time frames in § 165.42 (relating to advance payment of special allowances for supportive services), to ensure that the participant will have access to the child care provider of the participant’s choice. The advance payment requirement does not apply to vendor payments for child care. Advance payments are considered a reimbursement of future child care expenses for food stamp eligibility purposes.
(i) The Department will make an exception to the provisions which limit advance payment to instances in which the provider requires it, and which restrict advance payment for providers enrolled in the child care vendor payment system for a TANF budget group determined prospectively ineligible as a result of starting new employment under § 168.71(1)(ii) (relating to monthly payment determination).
(ii) The Department will make an advance payment from the first day of employment until the date of discontinuance if the information is verified through a collateral contact consistent with § 168.41(4) (relating to verification requirements).
(c) At application, reapplication and whenever the agreement of mutual responsibility is developed or revised, the CAO will inform applicants and recipients in writing and orally of the availability of child care allowances.
(d) Determination of eligibility and notification of approval or denial of child care payments will be done in accordance with § 165.43 (relating to special allowances for supportive services and time frames for eligibility determinations).
(e) Authorization of payment for child care will be done based on time frames consistent with § 165.45 (relating to time frames for authorization of special allowances for supportive services).
(f) The Department will discuss the maximum child care allowances and the co-payment sliding fee scale in Chapter 3041, Appendix B (relating to co-payment chart, family co-payment scale), whenever the Agreement of Mutual Responsibility (AMR) is developed or revised and reflects a need for child care. The Department will advise clients that copies of the maximum child care allowances and the co-payment sliding fee scale are available upon request at the CAO.
(g) The Department will provide help in finding and selecting a child care provider.
Source The provisions of this § 168.1 amended January 8, 1999, effective February 1, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 271; amended December 29, 2006, effective December 30, 2006, 36 Pa.B. 7961. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (252566) and (312055).
Cross References This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 168.41 (relating to verification requirements).
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