740-2          PASSParents Achieving Self-Sufficiency II CHILD CARE

PASSParents Achieving Self-Sufficiency II child care assistance is available for those who continue to need child care, during the 12 month period after a family's TATemporary Assistance case closes with earnings from employment.  The PASSParents Achieving Self-Sufficiency II program is administered statewide through grants and sub-grants to agencies who deliver services on behalf of DPADivision of Public Assistance's Child Care Program Office (CCPO). CCPOChild Care Program Office sets the eligibility requirements and determines the portion of the child care expenses a family is required to pay, while participating in the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP).

Although the caseworker does not determine PASSParents Achieving Self-Sufficiency II eligibility, it is their responsibility to respond to client inquiries about the program's basic eligibility requirements, inform clients of their potential eligibility for services, and to send a client referral to the contracted CCAPChild Care Assistance Program agency in the client's service area.

These requirements are met when the caseworker responds to program inquiries verbally or in writing using only the eligibility information provided in the subsections within ATAPAlaska Temporary Assistance Program MSManual Section 740-2 and if applicable, sends the PASSParents Achieving Self-Sufficiency II Child Care Referral notice (W150) to the client and to the contracted CCAPChild Care Assistance Program agency in the client's service area.

740-2 A.     FACTORS OF ELIGIBILITY

A family whose ATAPAlaska Temporary Assistance Program case closes with earnings, regardless of penalty or disqualification status, may receive PASSParents Achieving Self-Sufficiency II child care assistance if they meet the following criteria:

• The family contacts the designated CCAPChild Care Assistance Program agency in their service area and completes the PASSParents Achieving Self-Sufficiency II application and interview process; and

• The family meets the income eligibility standard for PASSParents Achieving Self-Sufficiency II; and

• A child in the home is under age 13, or is age 13 - 19 and physically or mentally unable to care for himself or herself as defined by CCPOChild Care Program Office; and

• Continued employment of a family member in the ATAPAlaska Temporary Assistance Program unit is reliant upon an age eligible child in the home receiving child care.

A child who moves into the household after the TATemporary Assistance case closes may be eligible for PASSParents Achieving Self-Sufficiency II if the new child meets the eligibility factors.

740-2 B.     PERIOD OF ELIGIBILITY

The period of eligibility for PASSParents Achieving Self-Sufficiency II child care assistance begins on the first day of the first month after the TATemporary Assistance case closes, and continues for 12 consecutive months.  The family may request PASSParents Achieving Self-Sufficiency II child care assistance any time during this eligibility period.

Note:

The PASSParents Achieving Self-Sufficiency II program start date is determined by the date the application is received by a CCAPChild Care Assistance Program agency.  The PASSParents Achieving Self-Sufficiency II program may cover child care benefits for the month prior to the PASSParents Achieving Self-Sufficiency II application only if it is within their PASSParents Achieving Self-Sufficiency II eligibility period. The Work Services case manager may authorize one month of PASSParents Achieving Self-Sufficiency I after the TATemporary Assistance case closes, if circumstances permit.

740-2 C.    REFERRAL FOR PASSParents Achieving Self-Sufficiency II

The PASSParents Achieving Self-Sufficiency II child care referral notice (W150) directs the family to contact the designated CCAPChild Care Assistance Program agency in their service area to apply for PASSParents Achieving Self-Sufficiency II program services.  The caseworker sends this notice to the client and the designated CCAPChild Care Assistance Program agency. The applicable ATAPAlaska Temporary Assistance Program closure notice also needs to be sent to the client at this time.

The PASSParents Achieving Self-Sufficiency II referral should be sent to every family whose TATemporary Assistance case closes with any earned income. The reason for case closure doe not affect the PASSParents Achieving Self-Sufficiency II referral.

Note:

CCAPChild Care Assistance Program service areas and agency contact information is available on the CCPOChild Care Program Office Child Care Contact Information webpage and is titled "Child Care Assistance Program Service Delivery Area and Agency Contact Information." Utilization of the information provided on this webpage will ensure the caseworker is able to determine the appropriate CCAPChild Care Assistance Program agency in the client's service area and notify both the client and the CCAPChild Care Assistance Program agency of the PASSParents Achieving Self-Sufficiency II referral.

740-2 D. FEE REQUIREMENT

Families are required to contribute to the CCAPChild Care Assistance Program's payment of their child care expenses. This contribution is known to the family as the "co-pay." The co-pay is determined by CCPOChild Care Program Office using a sliding income scale.

740-2 E. RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE ELIGIBILITY

If a family that is receiving PASSParents Achieving Self-Sufficiency II applies for TATemporary Assistance and is found eligible, PASSParents Achieving Self-Sufficiency II child care assistance must be discontinued.  The caseworker must notify the CCPOChild Care Program Office when the family becomes eligible for PASSParents Achieving Self-Sufficiency I.

The family may qualify for a new 12-month period of PASSParents Achieving Self-Sufficiency II eligibility if the family receives TATemporary Assistance, their case closes due to earnings from employment, and the family meets all the conditions of eligibility for PASSParents Achieving Self-Sufficiency II child care assistance.