Section 50.230  Child Care Eligibility

a)         Child care services are restricted to children under age 13 and to children under age 19 who are under court supervision or have physical or mental incapacities as documented by a statement from a local health provider or other health professional.

b)         Parents and other relatives eligible to receive child care services include:

1)         Recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) under Article IV of the Public Aid Code participating in work and training activities as specified in their personal plans for employment and self-sufficiency who have been approved for child care benefits by the Department and who meet the monthly income ceilings in subsection (b)(2) of this Section.

2)         Working families, including teen parents while they attend school to obtain a high school degree or its equivalent, whose monthly incomes do not exceed the following amounts by family size:

The above income eligibility guidelines are set at 200% of the most curent federal poverty level for each family size.  The above income guidelines will be indexed annually so that the thresholds are no less than 185% of the most current federal poverty level for each family size.

3)         Families who do not receive TANF and need child care services in order to attend school or training (up to and including the acquisition of the first Associate Degree and/or the first  Bachelor's Degree) whose monthly income does not exceed the monthly income ceilings in subsection (b)(2) of this Section.  Qualifying families are eligible to receive child care services needed to attend literacy and other adult basic education, English as a Second Language, GED preparation, and vocational training for up to 24 non-consecutive months with no work requirement, after which they must work a monthly average of at least 20 hours per week in paid employment.  Child care provided to a teen parent to obtain a high school degree, or its equivalent, does not count against this 24-month limit.  Qualifying families are eligible to receive child care services to attend a 2 or 4 year college degree program if they work a monthly average of at least 10 hours per week in paid employment or a monthly average of at least 20 hours per week in a combination of paid employment and unpaid, educationally-required work activities such as student teaching, an internship, a clinical, a practicum or an apprenticeship.  Child care services shall be available during time periods that are reasonably related to the following activities performed outside the home:  paid work, self-employment and education or training activity, including class hours and research, laboratory, library and transportation time.  Families with a work requirement shall receive the same grace periods between jobs as persons who receive services pursuant to subsection (b)(2) of this Section.  If a parent is claimed as a dependent by another person for federal income tax purposes, that parent is only eligible if his or her income when added to the income of the other person does not exceed the monthly income ceiling in subsection (b)(2) of this Section for that family size.

4)         Relatives (other than parents) who receive child-only TANF or General Assistance (GA) benefits as Representative Payee for children in need of care while they work outside the home.

c)         All families must be residents of Illinois.

d)         Payment for child care services to eligible parents may begin:

1)         if care was provided at the time and all eligibility factors are met, on either:

A)        the date of the parent's signature; or

B)        one week (seven calendar days) prior to the stamped date of receipt by the Department or its agents, whichever is later; or

2)         on the date the child care provider actually begins providing child care services, if the application is received in advance of services being provided and all eligibility factors are met.

e)         Eligibility ceases 10 calendar days from the date of the termination notice sent to the parent by the Department or its agents following a determination of ineligibility.

(Source:  Amended at 32 Ill. Reg. 14742, effective August 28, 2008)