(CD15-05, OEC15-02 dated January 23, 2015), (CD12-33, OEC12-06 dated March 15, 2012), (CD11-45/OEC11-11 dated May 20, 2011), (CD11-60/OEC11-16 dated July 12, 2011)
Child care may be authorized due to the following need components and based on the limitations listed.
NOTE: Time limits are for the participant’s life time. Time limits apply as long as the household meets all other child care eligibility criteria during that period.
Additional information regarding appropriate child care need components for Temporary Assistance (TA) individuals participating in the Missouri Work Assistance (MWA) program are described in the CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND MISSOURI WORK ASSISTANCE PROGRAM CROSSWALK.
Employment
Maximum Life Time Limit: As long as the participant is employed and meets the criteria listed below.
CCNEED (FMAC) Code: EMP
EU Certification Period: Up to one year
Comments:
Employment must be paid employment and does not include income in kind situations. Example – participant works in exchange for rent.Employment must be verified by the source.Child care providers providing care to four or less unrelated children (FOL) are not eligible for child care assistance for their own child/ren while they are providing care to other children. An FOL is the sole caregiver of the child(ren).Participants claiming to work for an FOL provider are not eligible for employment as a need for care, as this is not valid employment.
General Education Development (GED)/ Adult Education and Literacy (AEL)
Maximum Life Time Limit: One year.
CCNEED (FMAC) Code: GED or AEL
EU Certification Period: Up to one year
Comments:
The GED and AEL programs must be certified by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).A list of local GED/AEL program contacts can be found online at http://www.dese.mo.gov/divcareered/ael_mo_program.htm.GED/AEL is subject to satisfactory progress policy as outlined in 1210.020.15.20 SATISFACTORY PROGRESS.Time limit may be extended. Extensions should be reviewed on an individual basis. Staff should request hard copy verification from the GED/AEL site before extending this need component.The hard copy verification should clearly state the participant is making satisfactory progress and include an estimated date the participant should reasonably obtain their GED or complete the AEL courses.Participation and enrollment must be verified.
English as a Second Language (ESL)
Maximum Life Time Limit: One year.
CCNEED (FMAC) Code: ESL
EU Certification Period: Up to one year
Comments:
Time limit may be extended. Extensions should be reviewed on an individual basis.If it is determined that reasonable efforts are not being made on part of the participant in completing the ESL program, staff should request verification on the participant’s status from the appropriate program.Participation and enrollment must be verified.
Junior High or Elementary School
Maximum Life Time Limit: As needed to complete.
CCNEED (FMAC) Code: JRH
EU Certification Period: Up to one year
Comments: Participation and enrollment must be verified.
High School
Maximum Life Time Limit: Four (4) years or as needed to complete.
CCNEED (FMAC) Code: HSC
EU Certification Period: Up to one year
Comments:
Maximum based on actual semesters required to graduate.Participation and enrollment must be verified.
Post Secondary Education
Maximum Life Time Limit: Four (4) years.
CCNEED (FMAC) Code: COL
EU Certification Period: Certification period determined by the time period the enrollment has been verified.
Comments:
Maximum based on actual semesters required to graduate.Participant’s intent must be to receive a bachelor’s or associate’s degree, or to transfer credits to an institution that offers a bachelor’s or associate’s degree.Post-graduate study is not an eligible need component for the receipt of child care benefits.Once a participant has obtained an initial two-year or four-year degree, whether or not the individual accessed child care assistance while obtaining this degree, they are considered employable and no longer qualify for child care assistance for post secondary education. For participants who have received an associate’s degree and who continue to move forward in obtaining a bachelor’s degree within the same field while maintaining satisfactory progress, the participant may continue to receive child care, which cannot exceed four years. Participants who have obtained a bachelor’s degree and who are determined employable are ineligible for child care for post secondary education. However, the participant may access child care for another child care need if all other eligibility criteria is met.Once a participant obtains an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in one field, s/he is not eligible for child care for post secondary education for another field of study.For Temporary Assistance (TA) individuals participating in the MWA program, the MWA program assessment may determine the individual is not employable with their current degree. In these situations, obtain a copy of the TA participant’s Individual Employment Plan that indicates additional post secondary education is needed.For individuals participating in Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), the VR program assessment may determine the individual is not employable with their current degree. In these situations, obtain a copy of the VR documents indicating additional post secondary education is needed.Study time up to one hour per credit hour of enrollment may be allowed, in addition to the time in class, for all TA and non-TA participants. Allow additional study time on an hour for hour basis for required lab work when lab hours are not included in the total credit hours.Allow continuous child care when reasonable travel time does not permit the parent to return to the scheduled activity in a timely manner.Enrollment and satisfactory progress must be verified. Refer to manual section 1210.020.15.20 SATISFACTORY PROGRESS.
Online Educational Classes
A parent enrolled in online classes from an accredited college or university is eligible for child care assistance only if the following conditions are met:
The college or university offers a bachelor’s or associate’s degree program, or offers credits in courses that are typically transferred to an institution that offers a bachelor’s or associate’s degree.The class is offered only at a regularly scheduled time (i.e. 11:00 a.m. every Monday and Wednesday). Online classes that the parent may take at any time do not fit this criteria.
Care shall not be authorized during the hours the child is in school, is home schooled or is in a two-parent family when the other parent is available to care for the child.
The Eligibility Specialist must confirm the online class is only offered at a regularly scheduled time by verifying the class schedule as described in manual section 1210.020.15.15 Verification of Education and Training.
If the client is eligible and the need for care has been established, approve child care for the length of the class schedule but no longer than the semester for which the class is being offered.
Enrollment and satisfactory progress must be verified. Refer to manual section 1210.020.15.20 SATISFACTORY PROGRESS.
Job Training
Maximum Life Time Limit: Two (2) years.
CCNEED (FMAC) Code: TRN
EU Certification Period: Certification period determined by the time period enrollment in the training program has been verified.
Comments:
Training geared toward a specific type of employment. Once a participant has completed job training, the participant is considered employable and ineligible for further assistance under this component.Examples of job training as a valid need for care include, but are not limited to the following: on the job training, training for a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA), other customized training programs.For Temporary Assistance (TA) individuals participating in the MWA program, the MWA program assessment may determine the individual is not employable with their current training certificate.In these situations, obtain a copy of the TA participant’s Individual Employment Plan that indicates additional job training is needed.For individuals participating in the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program, the VR program assessment may determine the individual is not employable with their current training certificate. In these situations, obtain a copy of the VR documents indicating additional post secondary education is needed.Participation and enrollment must be verified.
NOTE: Participants with an expired license or certification are considered employable and are responsible for renewing the license or certificate.
Evaluation for trainability/employability
Maximum Time Limit: Two (2) weeks per enrollment.
CCNEED (FMAC) Code: TRN
EU Certification period: Certification period determined by the time period enrollment has been verified.
Comments:
Evaluation must be for a federally funded program (i.e. VR, JC, WIA, Missouri Work Assistance (MWA), etc).Participation and enrollment must be verified.If a TA applicant is mandatory to participate in the Missouri Work Assistance (MWA) program, a child care application should be taken at the same time the household applies for TA. The child care application should be processed as normal, determining eligibility within 15 days of the application date. For households mandatory to participate in the MWA program, enter TRN (training/evaluation) on the CCNEED (FMAC) screen in FAMIS. The begin date on CCNEED will be the date of application. Enter an end date on CCNEED 60 days in the future. Do not authorize children to a provider until verification of an appointment or participation in the MWA is received from MWA staff. For active child care cases who begin participation in the MWA program, update the CCNEED screen to TRN once verification of their participation has been received. TA individuals should be encouraged to participate in the MWA program. An individual who is sanctioned by the MWA program may be eligible for child care if the person has another valid need for child care and other eligibility requirements are met.
Federally funded programs – Vocational Rehabilitation (VR), Job Corps (JC), Workforce Investment Act (WIA)
Maximum Life Time Limit: Duration of the program.
CCNEED (FMAC) Code: JOC (Job Corps), JTP (WIA programs), and/or VOC (VR programs)
EU Certification period: Up to one year. Certification period determined by the time period enrollment has been verified.
Comment: Participation and enrollment must be verified.
Job Skills Training
Maximum Life Time Limit: Twelve (12) months total.
CCNEED (FMAC) Code: TRN
EU Certification period: Up to one year. Certification period determined by the time period verified by the administering agency.
Comments:
Training in skills needed to enter the workforce. Examples include interviewing skills, resume development, etc.Job skills training must be administered by a federally funded program (i.e. VR, JC, WIA, MWA, etc).No extension of time limit.Participation and enrollment must be verified by the administering agency.
Work Experience
Maximum Life Time Limit: Twelve (12) Months.
CCNEED (FMAC) Code: WKE
EU Certification period: Up to one year. Certification period determined by the time period verified by the administering agency.
Comments:
Includes alternative work experience and community work experience.Work Experience must be administered by a federally funded program (i.e. VR, JC, WIA, MWA, etc).Time limit can be extended, as determined and verified by the administering agency.Participation and enrollment must be verified by the administering agency.
Job Search (formerly Work First)
Maximum Time Limit: Twelve (12) Weeks per rolling year.
CCNEED (FMAC) Code: JOS
EU Certification period: Certification period determined by the time period verified by the MWA program.
Comments:
This component is only valid for TA recipients participating with the Missouri Work Assistance program. Refer to 1210.020.005 Temporary Assistance.The participant shall be provided a maximum of 12 total weeks per rolling year to participate in the job search component.Extensions due to loss of employment count towards the 12 week total.Participation must be verified by the MWA program.
Incapacitation of Parent
Maximum Time Limit: Duration as certified by a physician.
CCNEED (FMAC) Code: ICT
EU Certification period: Up to one year. Certification period determined by the physician’s statement verifying the need for care.
Comments: Verification standards are outlined in manual section 1210.020.15.30 VERIFICATION OF INCAPACITATION OF PAYEE.
Parent of a Child with Special Needs
Maximum Time Limit: Duration as certified by a physician.
CCNEED (FMAC) Code: SND
EU Certification period: Up to one year. Certification period determined by the physician’s statement verifying the child’s special need for care.
Comments:
This component should be used only when the parent does not have a need for care, other than the special need of the child.Verification standards are outlined in manual section 1210.020.15.40 VERIFICATION OF SPECIAL NEEDS.The child must have a diagnosed special need certified by a physician or psychologist. A statement from a physician or psychologist stating only that the child would benefit from the socialization of being in a child care setting does not meet the criteria of a special need, as all children have a need for socialization with