This chapter describes the general policies and procedures for Expedited Child Care for Families Experiencing Homelessness.

To be eligible for the expedited child care policies, applicants MUST:

· File an application. See Chapter 3.7. (Processing Applications).

· Meet the definition of homeless for the Child Care Assistance Program. See Chapter 2 (Glossary) for definition of homeless.

· Have children needing care who are of an appropriate age. See Chapter 2 (Glossary) for definition of child.

· Meet income limits based on information available on application. See Chapter 6.3 (Income Limits).

· Have assets of equal to or less than $1 million. See Chapter 4.12 (Asset Limit).

· Have children who meet citizenship and immigration status requirements based on information available on application or attend care in a setting subject to public educational standards. See Chapter 4.15 (Child’s Citizenship and Immigration Status).

Refer to the following chapters for information about:

· Processing applications. See Chapter 3.7.1. (Processing Applications from Families Experiencing Homelessness).

· Assisting families with meeting program requirements. See Chapter 4.21.3 (Assisting Families Experiencing Homelessness).

· Participating in authorized activities. See Chapter 4.6.9. (Authorized Activities for Families Experiencing Homelessness).

· Cooperating with child support. See Chapter 4.9.15. (Child Support Cooperation for Families Experiencing Homelessness).

· Providing verification and requirements at the end of the three-month period. See Chapter 7.3.1. (Verification for Families Experiencing Homelessness).

· Eligibility ending after three-month period. See Chapter 8.6 (Temporary Ineligibility).

· Authorizing child care. See Chapter 9.1.15 (Authorizing Care – Expedited Child Care).

· Authorizing child care with a high quality provider. See Chapter 9.1.12 (Weekly Authorization to High Quality Providers)

· Allowing child care hours to increase when family verifies need for more hours. See Chapter 9.12 (Authorization Changes During the 12-Month Eligibility Period)

Three-month eligibility period

A family experiencing homelessness is eligible for three months from the date of application. The family must submit verifications, have an authorized activity and be cooperating with child support by the end of the three--month period for eligibility to continue. See Chapter 7.3.1 (Verifications for Families Experiencing Homelessness).

The three-month period begins on the date of application. If a family’s eligibility begins after the date of application (if funds are not available on the date of application), best practice is to add a comment to the family’s initial approval notice stating when the three-month period ends.

Verifications received and homeless requirements met

Eligibility

If the family meets all requirements by the end of the three-month period, the family is eligible for continued eligibility.

Once a family experiencing homelessness is approved eligible beyond the initial three-month period, the same policies apply as all other families during the 12-month eligibility period. The 12-month eligibility period for families experiencing homelessness begins the date of application and ends on the date of their redetermination (generally 12 months after the date of application).

Income and copay

Copays cannot increase at the end of the three-month period unless an income source was not reported on the application and is discovered later. If an income source was not reported on the application and verification shows that the copay would have been higher, contact your policy specialist.

If an income source was reported on the application and verification shows that the family’s income was higher than initially calculated, the copay cannot increase.

The copay can decrease if verification supports the decrease.

Verifications not received or homeless requirements not met

Temporary Ineligible

If the family does not meet all the requirements by the end of the three-month period, the case must be put in Temporary Ineligible (TI) status with a 15-day notice.

Note: For families experiencing homelessness the Temporary Ineligible status begins the biweekly period after the three-month period ends. See 8.6 (Temporary Ineligibility).

Verifications received and over entrance income limit

Ineligible

A family receiving expedited child care must submit verification of their income to determine if they met the entrance income limit at application.

· If the family receiving expedited child care verifies their income reported at application and it did not meet the entrance income limit but is below 85% of the State Median Income, they continue to be eligible for the remainder of their three-month period. They are not eligible for continued eligibility after the three-month period ends. To close the case, do not delete the Case Action Window. Add a comment to the closing notice that the case is closing due to being over the income entrance limit. Include the calculated income amount in the comment text. Do not put the case in Temporary Ineligible status.

· If an income source was not reported at application and verification shows that the family was over entrance guidelines, they are not eligible for the remainder of their three-month period. Due to 12-month eligibility policy, MEC² will not generate ineligible results. Contact your CCAP policy specialist for assistance to generate ineligible results.

Overpayments

If a family experiencing homelessness is determined ineligible at the end of the three-month period, there is no overpayment unless fraud is determined. If a family experiencing homelessness is determined to be eligible for fewer benefits, such as a higher copay, at the end of the three-month period, there is no overpayment unless fraud is determined.

Legal authority

Minnesota Statutes 142E.03, subd. 1
Minnesota Statutes 142E.11, subd. 3
Minnesota Rules 3400.0040, subp. 17