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Almost all participants receiving assistance through MFIP or DWP are eligible for child care assistance.

· This includes participants in Family Stabilization Services and participants who have opted out of cash assistance but still receive MFIP food support.

· To be eligible, participants must be participating in approved activities.

· Participants must apply for child care assistance. Counties will have different offices and procedures for taking those applications.

When eligibility for child care assistance begins:

Participant’s situation.	Eligibility for child care begins on 1 of following dates, whichever is later:
For participants working or doing job search outside of an employment plan.	· The start date of employment or job search. · The start date of MFIP or DWP eligibility.
For participants in employment services.	· The start date of employment services. · The start date of MFIP or DWP eligibility.
Retroactive eligibility.	Eligibility for child care assistance cannot go back further than 3 months prior to the child care assistance application date.

For more information, see Child Care Assistance Program Policy Manual 4.18 (Date of Eligibility).

The activities and hours that can be covered by MFIP/DWP child care assistance differ depending on whether the participant has an employment plan or not.

Activity	MFIP/DWP child care assistance: With an Employment Plan	MFIP/DWP Child Care Assistance: Outside an Employment Plan
Job Search.	As defined in the employment plan.	Up to 20 hours a week, but no more than 240 hours in a calendar year. Only allowed at application and redetermination for child care assistance eligibility.
Employment.	As defined in the employment plan.	Must work an average of: · 20 hours per week. · 10 hours if a full-time student.
High school, GED, Adult Basic Education, English Language Learning.	As defined in the employment plan.	Not covered.
Post-Secondary Education.	As defined in the employment plan.	Not covered.
MFIP financial assistance orientations and employment services overviews.	Covered.	Covered.
Assessments.	Covered.	Covered.
Appeals and hearings.	Covered.	Covered.
Social Services and other activities.	As defined in the employment plan.	Not covered.
Any other activity included in an employment plan.	Covered.	Not covered.

Child care assistance never supports the following activity:

· Paid or unpaid work done for political purposes. This means any work done to directly or indirectly influence voting in public elections.

If a participant is transitioning from DWP to MFIP and already has child care assistance, the child care authorization will continue as follows:

Participants’ status	Child Care Authorization
Employed and 12 Month Reporters. See 10.9.3 (Full-Time & Part-Time Employment: Documenting/Tracking).	No changes.
Employed and a Schedule Reporter. See 10.12.3 (Self-Employment: Documenting/Tracking).	Authorization will be based on verified work schedules.
Not employed (for both 12 Month and Schedule Reporters).	Extended child care 3 months or until participant’s next redetermination, whichever occurs first.