Department of Social Services
Family Support Division
PO Box 2320
Jefferson City, Missouri
TO: ALL FAMILY SUPPORT OFFICES
FROM: KIM EVANS, DIRECTOR
SUBJECT: CHILD CARE AUTHORIZATION CLARIFICATIONS
DISCUSSION:
Family Support Division (FSD), in consultation with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Childhood, has become aware of a technical problem impacting transitional child care subsidy benefits for certain households. Previously, a family applying for Child Care Subsidy as a new applicant between January 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021, could be eligible for Transitional Child Care when their adjusted gross income was between 151% to 185% (transitional level A) or 186% to 215% (transitional level B) of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). The eligibility period for these households was programmed to terminate on December 31, 2021, regardless of the date of application.
Participants with a transitional child care subsidy certification period ending prior to the normal yearly (twelve month) certification will receive a letter to advise them that the certification timeframe has been corrected to twelve (12) months. Participants will receive a renewal letter and application when it is time to recertify for the transitional Child Care Subsidy benefit.
Families who received this temporary transitional child care benefit will need to reapply for Child Care Subsidy prior to their approved twelve (12) month certification ending, and must meet the traditional childcare income guidelines of 139%-150% of the (FPL) to be considered eligible for Child Care Subsidy at the traditional income thresholds. Effective January 1, 2022, in order to qualify for transitional child care, the participant must have first been determined eligible for the traditional child care benefit.
Example: a family who was found eligible on January 1, 2021 has an eligibility period through December 31, 2021. A family who was found eligible on August 1, 2021 may have received a notice that their eligibility period would end on December 31, 2021 and a recertification would be required in January 2022; however, this is not correct. The eligibility period for a family found eligible on August 1, 2021 shall be valid for a twelve (12) month period.
Families may contact the Family Support Division to request clarification regarding their child care benefits and the eligibility period. Additional guidance is forthcoming. In the interim, staff must explain that transitional child care eligibility will be corrected to reflect a twelve (12) month period for those households who were originally given an eligibility period shorter than twelve (12) months from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. The impacted households will receive a new notice once system updates have been completed.
NECESSARY ACTION:
- Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.
KE