Adults and children that meet the definition of a Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) family may remain in the CCAP family while temporarily absent if they intend to return to the CCAP household. Temporary absences include circumstances such as:

· Family members attending schools away from their home

· Family members in foster care

· Family members in residential treatment facilities

· Family members in military service

· Family members in rehabilitation programs

· An incarcerated family member.

The CCAP worker must determine if the absent adult family member is in a CCAP authorized activity or on Extended Eligibility when the adult is temporarily absent. Do not assume a temporarily absent parent had a permanent end to their authorized activity due to the absence. If a parent is on a temporary break from their authorized activity while temporarily absent, consider the parent to have an authorized activity.

Temporarily absent adults

Adults without an authorized activity

An adult family member who is not in an authorized activity or on Extended Eligibility may be considered temporarily absent for up to 60 days. When the temporarily absent adult is not in an authorized activity and has been absent from the household for 60 days, MEC2 will remove the absent adult from the CCAP household and will change household size. However, if the temporarily absent adult is on Extended Eligibility and leaves the home or was in an authorized activity when they left the home and began Extended Eligibility while temporarily absent, Extended Eligibility policy applies and the absent adult will not be removed from the CCAP household until the end of the Extended Eligibility period or 60 days, whichever is later.

If the temporarily absent adult is removed from the CCAP household composition this will result in the need for child support cooperation at the next redetermination.

Adults with authorized activity

Temporarily absent adults who are in an authorized activity are not subject to the 60-day limit. Adult family members with an authorized activity will remain in the CCAP household composition during the entire time the adult member is temporarily absent. The CCAP worker must determine if the absent adult family member is in a CCAP authorized activity.

Temporarily absent children

Temporarily absent children are not subject to the 60-day limit. Children are considered temporarily absent from the household if they intend to return to the CCAP household. Continue to include these children in the CCAP household size. If a family reports that a child should not be in the CCAP household size, contact your CCAP Policy Specialist.

Typically, care is not authorized during periods of time when children are temporarily absent. One common exception is a child who is temporarily absent from their home but with their parent while the parent receives care at a treatment facility.

Examples of families with a temporarily absent child

Example 1

A parent submits an application for CCAP indicating the only child is in foster care and the parent is expecting trial home visits to start with the child two days a week according to a plan created with the local social services agency.

Impact on CCAP eligibility and authorization:

· Process and approve the application with the child included in the CCAP household as temporarily absent. See Chapter 5.3 (Determining the CCAP Family).

· Do not authorize care when the child is temporarily absent. Suspend the case while the child is temporarily absent. See Chapter 8.9 (Suspending).

· Authorize care for the days the parent has the child when the trial home visits start if the parent is eligible for authorization on those days. See Chapter 9.1 (Authorizing Child Care).

Example 2

During the 12-month eligibility period it becomes known to the agency that the only two children in the home that have an open Service Authorization have been temporarily removed from the household by the local social services agency.

Impact on CCAP eligibility and authorization:

· The children are considered temporarily absent and should remain included in the CCAP household. The family remains eligible. Do not take action to remove the children from the household or close the case for no eligible children. See Chapter 5.3 (Determining the CCAP Family).

· Close the Service Authorization allowing for a 15-day notice. See Chapter 9.12 (Authorization Changes During the 12-Month Eligibility Period).

· Suspend the case while the children are temporarily absent. See Chapter 8.9 (Suspending).

Example 3

At redetermination it is reported that the children in the family will be spending the summer with a family member for school break. The children will leave on June 1 and are expected to return to their home September 1.

Impact on CCAP eligibility and authorization:

· Process and approve the redetermination with the children included in the CCAP household. See Chapter 5.3 (Determining the CCAP Family).

· Determine authorized hours based on the verified activity schedule and authorize care while school remains in session. See Chapter 9.1 (Authorizing Child Care).

· Close the service authorization allowing for a 15-day notice when the school year ends and the children are expected to temporarily leave the household. See Chapter 9.12 (Authorization Changes During the 12-Month Eligibility Period.

· Suspend the case while the children are temporarily absent for the summer months. See Chapter 8.9 (Suspending).

Parenting time arrangements – child resides in multiple homes

When a child resides in multiple homes, each family can apply for child care assistance. Parenting time arrangements are an example of when a child residing in two homes can be included in more than one CCAP case. In these situations:

· The child is considered to be temporarily absent from each home during the time the child is not in residence in that home.

· The child is included in the CCAP family household composition in each family.

· Child care can be authorized for each CCAP case based on when the child is residing with each family.

· Each case would have to cooperate with child support enforcement at application and redetermination because there is an absent parent in each case.

· Eligibility, income, copayment, household size, and Service Authorizations are determined separately for each case.

When a child resides in more than one household and care is authorized to different providers on each case, care should be authorized to support the activities of the PRI(s) when the child resides at that PRI’s home. Do not authorize care for the days the child does not reside in the PRI’s home to prevent absent days from being paid to the provider(s) not caring for the child when the child is in the home of the other CCAP family. See Chapter 9.1 (Authorizing Child Care).

For more information on a CCAP family, see Chapter 2 (Glossary), Chapter 5.3 (Determining the CCAP Family) and Chapter 5.9 (CCAP Family Composition Examples).

Parent temporarily absent – children temporarily staying with someone else

Children may be temporarily staying with someone else if their parent is temporarily absent. For example, a child may be temporarily staying with someone else while their parent is in treatment, incarcerated or in the hospital.

If a child is temporarily staying with someone who is not a Parentally Responsible Individual, that person is not eligible to receive child care assistance for the child. However, authorization can sometimes continue under the parent’s’ case. Several policies must be considered to determine if care can be authorized when a child is temporarily staying with someone else. Policies to consider are:

· The person who requested assistance must meet applicant requirements. See Chapters 4.1 (Applicant Requirements) and 5.3 (Determining the CCAP Family).

· At application and redetermination, the parent(s) must meet activity requirements. See Chapter 4.6 (CCAP Authorized Activities) and all subchapters.

· During the 12-month eligibility period, whether a change in activity will impact a family’s case depends on the family’s reporting type. See Chapter 8.1.9 (Changes in Activity).

· Authorized hours are based on the parent or parents’ authorized activity schedule(s), the child’s school schedule and the provider’s availability. Authorized hours cannot be based on an activity schedule of someone who is not a Parentally Responsible Individual. See Chapter 9.1 (Authorizing Child Care).

· Activity and authorization requirements must be considered:

· Treatment, incarceration and hospitalization are not authorized activities unless they are in an Employment Plan. See Chapter 4.6.6 (Authorized Activities Outside an Employment Plan).

· Whether care can continue during a temporary leave from activity depends on the family’s reporter type. See Chapter 9.15.3 (Care During Temporary Breaks from Authorized Activities).

· Extended Eligibility policy applies when a parent has a permanent end to their activity. See Chapter 9.15.6 (Extended Eligibility).

· Adults without an authorized activity can only be temporarily absent from the household for 60 days. See Chapter 5.6 (CCAP Family - Temporary Absence).

· Child Care Assistance cannot pay a provider who lives in the same home as the child. See Chapter 11 (Providers).

Contact your policy specialist for help determining if care can be authorized for a child who is temporarily staying with someone else due to their parent being temporarily absent.

Legal authority

Minnesota Statutes 142E.01, subd. 14
Minnesota Statutes 142E.13
Minnesota Rules 3400.0020, subp. 40a
Minnesota Rules 3400.0040, subp. 3