The following examples illustrate case actions needed and policy for combinations of activities outside of an Employment Plan when determining eligibility at application and redetermination. Note: Education is NOT an authorized activity outside of an Employment Plan for the MFIP/DWP child care subprogram. See Chapter 4.6.6.9 (Education outside of an Employment Plan).

Employment and education examples

Meets minimum work requirements

Scenario: Parent is enrolled full-time in an approved education program. Parent is working an average of 15 hours per week earning over minimum wage.

Case action: Child care can be authorized for both activities.

Policy: For full-time students, the parent must work at least an average of 10 hours per week at minimum wage for child care hours to be authorized for employment (unless included in an approved MFIP/DWP Employment Plan).

Does not meet minimum employment activity requirements

Scenario: Parent is enrolled part-time in an approved education program. Parent is working an average of 15 hours per week over minimum wage.

Case action: Child care can be authorized for the education activity ONLY.

Policy: For part-time students, the parent must work at least an average of 20 hours per week at minimum wage for child care hours to be authorized for employment.

Education activity is not approved

Scenario: Parent is enrolled full-time in an education program. The education program is not approved and does not meet the agency’s approval criteria as identified in their County and Tribal Child Care Fund Plan. Parent is working an average of 15 hours per week over minimum wage.

Case action: Child care can be authorized for employment ONLY.

Policy: For full-time students, the parent must work at least an average of 10 hours per week at minimum wage for child care hours to be authorized for employment. The education activity does not need to be approved and the parent does not need to request child care hours for their education activity for the minimum employment activity requirement to be 10 hours for a full-time student.

Employment and job search examples

Parent meets minimum work requirements and requests job search

Scenario: Parent is working an average of 25 hours per week earning minimum wage at application. The parent also requests job search hours to find a full-time job.

Case action: Child care can be authorized for employment ONLY.

Policy: Job search can only be authorized at application and redetermination and cannot be authorized in combination with other activities.

Parent does not meet minimum employment activity requirements and requests job search

Scenario: Parent is working an average of 15 hours per week earning minimum wage at application. The parent also requested job search hours to find a full-time job.

Case action: Child care can be authorized for job search ONLY.

Policy: Child care hours cannot be authorized for employment because the parent does not meet minimum employment activity requirements. Job search hours cannot be added to employment hours to meet minimum employment activity requirements.

Do not authorize more than 40 hours of job search biweekly. The parent may use authorized job search hours to cover child care expenses while working. At the end of the job search period, their employment must meet the minimum work requirements of at least an average of 20 hours per week earning at least minimum wage. If the parent is not meeting the minimum work requirements at the end of job search, the agency can approve the case to close, see Chapter 4.6.6.3 (Job search at application or redetermination) or place case in Temporary Ineligible status, see Chapter 8.6 (Temporary Ineligibility).

Education and job search examples

Full-time education program

Scenario: Parent is enrolled full-time in an education program. The parent does not want child care hours for their education program but has requested job search hours to find a job.

Case action: Authorize child care for job search ONLY. Do not authorize more than 40 hours of job search biweekly.

Policy: At the end of the parent’s job search period, they must have employment that meets the minimum work requirements of at least an average of 10 hours per week earning at least minimum wage. If the parent is not meeting the minimum work requirements for a full-time student, the agency can approve the case to close,(see Chapter 4.6.6.3 (Job search at application or redetermination) or place case on Temporary Ineligible status,see Chapter 8.6 (Temporary Ineligibility). This requires an override.

Part-time education program

Scenario: Parent is enrolled part-time in an education program. The parent does not want child care hours for their education program but has requested job search hours to find a job.

Case action: Authorize child care for job search ONLY. Do not authorize more than 40 hours of job search biweekly.

Policy: At the end of the parent’s job search period, they must have employment that meets the minimum work requirements of at least an average of 20 hours per week earning at least minimum wage. If the parent is not meeting the minimum work requirements for part-time students at the end of job search, the agency can approve the case to close, see Chapter 4.6.6.3 (Job search at application or redetermination) or place case in Temporary Ineligible status,see Chapter 8.6 (Temporary Ineligibility).

Requests education and job search

Scenario: Parent is enrolled in an approved education program and requests child care hours for their education program. The parent also requested job search hours to find a job.

Case action: Child care can be authorized for education ONLY.

Policy: Job search can only be authorized at application and redetermination and cannot be authorized in combination with other activities.

Employment Plan and job search examples

Approved activities within an Employment Plan and request care for job search outside an Employment Plan

Scenario: Parent has an Employment Plan for mental health and medical appointments up to 14 hours per week. At redetermination the parent requests care for Employment Plan Activities and Job Search. Job Search is not an approved activity within the Employment Plan.

Case action: Child care can be authorized for activities within the Employment Plan Only.

Policy: Job search can only be authorized at application and redetermination and CANNOT be authorized in combination with any other authorized activity outside an Employment Plan or authorized activities within an Employment Plan, see Chapter 4.6.6.3 (Job search at application or redetermination).

Note: It is recommended that the parent work with Employment Services to get Job Search added as an activity within the Employment Plan. If job search is added to the Employment Plan, child care can be authorized for all activities inside the Employment Plan, see Chapter 9.1.15 (9.1.5 Authorizing Care-Employment Plans).

Approved activity within an Empoyment Plan and new activity added

Scenario: At application the parent has an Employment Plan for social service activities up to 20 hours per week. During the 12-month period, the CCAP worker receives a revised Employment Plan for social service activities and job search up to 40 hours per week.

Case action: Child care authorization can increase from 20 hours to 40 hours per week.

Policy: During the 12-month eligibility period increase the amount of child authorized at any time if the participant verified the need for increased hours. Increase child care hours for Employment Plan activities when the job counselor informs the CCAP worker that additional days and times of child care are needed or the family submits verification of their activity schedule showing a need for more hours than currently authorized, see Chapter 9.12 (Authorization Changes During the 12-Month Eligibility Period).