Minnesota Administrative Rules

3400.0040 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS.

Subpart 1.

Applicant requirements and standards.

All applicants for child care assistance and all child care assistance program participants must meet the standards and requirements in this part in addition to the eligibility requirements in part 3400.0060, 3400.0080, or 3400.0090 for the child care program for which the person is applying or in which the person is participating.

Subp. 2.

[Repealed, 26 SR 253]

Subp. 3.

Documentation of eligibility information.

A.

An applicant for child care assistance must document the:

(1)

citizenship status or participation in a program that makes a child exempt from this documentation requirement for all children for whom child care assistance is being sought;

(2)

relationship of the children in the family to the applicant;

(3)

date of birth of the children in the family;

(4)

date of birth of the applicant if the applicant is under 21 years of age;

(5)

identity, income eligibility, and residence for all members of the applicant's family, including members temporarily absent from the household as defined in part 3400.0020, subpart 40a; and

(6)

work, education, or training activity status for all applicants as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.011, subdivision 2.

B.

The county must ask for the applicant's Social Security number, but the applicant is not required to disclose this information. Before asking for the applicant's social security number, the county must tell the applicant that:

(1)

the disclosure is voluntary;

(2)

the number is being solicited under the Code of Federal Regulations, title 45, section 98.71(a)(13); and

(3)

the social security number will be used by county, state, and federal governments and their employees for the purposes of verification, reporting, research, and any other purpose authorized by law.

C.

The county must determine an applicant's eligibility for child care assistance at the time of application. The county must redetermine eligibility according to part 3400.0180.

Subp. 4.

Participant reporting responsibilities.

A participant must meet the reporting requirements in items A and B. A participant may report a change in person, by telephone, by facsimile, or by mail, including electronic mail.

A.

When there is a change in the information reported by the participant at application or at the most recent redetermination of eligibility, the participant must report the new information to the county within ten calendar days after the change occurs. This reporting requirement applies to changes in income, residence, employment status, education or training status, family status, or family size. A change in income occurs on the day the participant receives the first payment reflecting the change in income.

B.

Except in cases where the license of a provider licensed by the state of Minnesota has been temporarily immediately suspended or where there is an imminent risk of harm to the health, safety, or rights of a child in care with a legal, nonlicensed provider, license exempt center, or provider licensed by an entity other than the state of Minnesota, a participant must notify the county and the provider of the intent to change providers at least 15 calendar days before changing providers.

Subp. 5.

Employment, education, and training requirements.

In a family with a single parent, or unmarried legal guardian or eligible relative caregiver, the applicant or participant must meet employment, education, or training requirements and other eligibility requirements in this part and in part 3400.0060, 3400.0080, or 3400.0090 for the child care assistance program for which the family is applying or in which the family is participating.

In a family with more than one parent or any combination of parents, stepparents, legal guardians and spouses, and eligible relative caregivers and spouses, at least one parent, legal guardian, eligible relative caregiver, or spouse must meet employment, education, or training requirements and other eligibility requirements in this part and in part 3400.0060, 3400.0080, or 3400.0090 for the child care assistance program for which the family is applying or participating in. The other parents, legal guardians, eligible relative caregivers, or spouses must:

A.

meet employment, education, or training requirements and other eligibility requirements in this part and part 3400.0060, 3400.0080, or 3400.0090 for the child care assistance program for which the family is applying or participating in; or

B.

be unable to care for the applicant's child or dependent as determined by a licensed physician, licensed psychologist, or the local social services agency.

Subp. 5a.

Child support cooperation.

All applicants and participants of the child care assistance program must cooperate with establishment of paternity and enforcement of child support obligations for all minor children in the family with an absent parent. For purposes of this part, a family has met the cooperation requirement when the family complies with Minnesota Statutes, section 256.741, or there is a finding under Minnesota Statutes, section 256.741, subdivision 10, of good cause for failing to cooperate. The child care portion of the child support order for children receiving child care assistance must be assigned to the public authority as provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 256.741.

Subp. 6.

[Repealed, 26 SR 253]

Subp. 6a.

Ineligibility for failure to pay fees under the child care fund.

A family that fails to pay the required family copayment fee under the child care fund is ineligible for child care assistance until the fees are paid or until the family reaches an agreement for payment with the provider and the county and then continues to comply with the payment agreement. When the county pays the parent, a family that fails to pay the provider the amount of the child care assistance payment is ineligible for child care assistance until the payment is made or until the family reaches an agreement for payment with the provider and the county and then continues to comply with the payment agreement.

Subp. 6b.

Ineligibility for failure to pay overpayments.

A family with an outstanding overpayment is ineligible for child care assistance until the overpayment is paid in full or until the family arranges to repay the overpayment according to part 3400.0187 and then continues to comply with the repayment agreement.

Subp. 6c.

Date of eligibility for assistance.

The date of eligibility for child care assistance under parts 3400.0060 and 3400.0080 must be determined according to Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.09, subdivision 7. The date of eligibility for child care assistance under part 3400.0090 is the date the family's MFIP or DWP case was closed.

Subp. 7.

Maximum biweekly child care assistance.

A family may not receive more than 120 hours of child care assistance per child every two weeks.

Subp. 8.

Child care assistance during employment.

A.

In addition to meeting other eligibility requirements, employed persons eligible for child care assistance under part 3400.0060, 3400.0080, or 3400.0090 must work at least an average of 20 hours per week and receive at least the minimum wage for all hours worked. Employed persons eligible for child care assistance under part 3400.0080 are exempt from this requirement if they have an approved employment plan that allows fewer work hours or a lower wage.

B.

The county and the participant may determine a length of time, not to exceed six months, over which the number of hours worked weekly can be averaged and counted toward the participant's meeting the average of 20 hours per week requirement. If the number of hours worked during the designated time period actually averages less than 20 hours per week, any child care assistance funds paid by the county on the participant's behalf during the designated time period are subject to recoupment or recovery.

C.

When a participant does not work by the hour and is not paid an hourly wage, the participant's earned income over a given period must be divided by the minimum wage to determine whether the participant has met the requirement to average at least 20 hours of work per week at minimum wage.

D.

Child care assistance during employment shall be authorized for the number of hours scheduled to be worked, including break and meal time during the employment, and up to two hours per day for travel time.

Subp. 9.

Child care assistance in support of employment.

A county must authorize child care assistance in support of employment for nonwork hours when the following conditions exist:

A.

the employee cannot reasonably modify his or her nonwork schedule to provide child care; and

B.

the child care assistance does not exceed the amount of assistance that would be granted under subpart 8, item D, during employment.

Subp. 10.

Child care assistance during education or training.

Counties shall provide child care assistance to students eligible under part 3400.0060 or 3400.0080 and enrolled in county-approved education or training programs or employment plans according to items A to C.

A.

Counties must authorize child care for full-time students for the days of class and on nonclass days, if needed for study, as determined by the county, not to exceed the maximum biweekly child care allowed.

B.

Counties must authorize child care for part-time students as needed for:

(1)

all hours of actual class time and credit hours for independent study and internships;

(2)

time periods between nonconsecutive classes;

(3)

up to two hours per day for travel time; and

(4)

two hours per week per credit hour for postsecondary students for study and academic appointments.

When a part-time student has more than one hour between classes on any one day, the study and academic appointment time authorized under subitem (4) shall be reduced by the number of hours between classes.

C.

Child care assistance for remedial classes is subject to county approval under subpart 12. Upon county approval of the remedial class or classes, the county shall authorize child care assistance necessary to enable the student to attend class and to complete class assignments.

Subp. 11.

Child care assistance during employment and education or training.

Employed students, including students on work study programs, are eligible for child care assistance during employment and education or training. Counties shall use the standards in subparts 8 and 10 to determine the amount of child care assistance. When full-time students request child care for employment, the employment hours must average at least ten hours per week at minimum wage. For purposes of determining whether the ten hours at minimum wage requirement in this subpart applies to a student, a full-time student retains full-time status during school breaks, including summers, if the student is expected to return to school full time after the break. Students eligible for child care assistance under part 3400.0080 are exempt from the ten hours per week at minimum wage requirement if they have an approved employment plan that allows fewer work hours or a lower wage. For purposes of determining whether the ten hours at minimum wage requirement in this subpart has been met, work-study hours and income must be counted as employment.

Subp. 12.

Acceptable course of study.

An acceptable course of study for a student eligible under part 3400.0060 is an education or training program approved by the county that will reasonably lead to full-time employment opportunities as determined by the county. An acceptable course of study for a student eligible under part 3400.0080 is an approved education or training program described in the MFIP participant's employment plan.

Subp. 13.

Satisfactory progress in education or training program.

Subject to the limitation in subpart 14, a county shall provide child care assistance to students with an approved education or training program for the length of the education or training program if the student is making satisfactory progress in the education or training program. Satisfactory progress in the education or training program means a student remains in good academic standing in the education or training program as determined by the educational institution and meets the requirements of the student's education plan under part 3400.0060 or employment plan under part 3400.0080. If the county determines that a student is not making satisfactory progress towards completion of an education or training program, the county shall notify the student and discontinue child care assistance according to part 3400.0185.

Subp. 14.

Maximum education or training under child care fund.

The maximum length of time a student is eligible for child care assistance under the child care fund for education or training is described in items A to D.

A.

A student eligible under part 3400.0060 is eligible for child care assistance according to Minnesota Statutes, section 119B.07.

B.

A student eligible under part 3400.0080 is eligible for child care assistance for the length of time necessary to complete activities authorized in the student's employment plan according to the standards in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 256J.

C.

A student eligible under part 3400.0060 who has completed or who has participated in but failed to complete an education or training program under the child care fund may receive child care assistance for a second education or training program if:

(1)

the new education or training program is approved by the county; and

(2)

the county expects that completing the program will lead to full-time employment.

D.

A student eligible under part 3400.0060 with a baccalaureate degree may only obtain child care assistance for education or training if the education or training is for continuing education units, certification, or coursework that is related to the baccalaureate degree or current employment and that is necessary to update credentials to obtain or retain employment.

Subp. 15.

Changes in education or training programs.

A proposed change in an education or training program is subject to county approval before the change may be made. A county may not deny a request for a change in an education or training program when the student requesting the change can show that changing a course or focus of study is necessary for reasons related to the health and safety of the student.

Subp. 15a.

Child care assistance during job search.

A.

A county shall provide up to 240 hours per calendar year of child care assistance for job search activities to participants:

(1)

eligible under part 3400.0080 who do not have approved job search support plans or whose approved employment plans do not include job search as an authorized activity;

(2)

eligible under part 3400.0090 who are seeking employment; and

(3)

eligible under part 3400.0060 who are seeking employment.

B.

The county shall grant child care assistance for job search activities:

(1)

according to the number of hours in the individual's approved job search plan;

(2)

by applying the criteria identified in its child care fund plan; or

(3)

by verifying the actual number of hours spent on job search.

C.

At the option of the individual in job search and with prior county approval, child care may be used at a rate that is less than full time provided the total child care assistance does not exceed 240 hours of child care per calendar year.

D.

Job search includes locating and contacting potential employers, preparing for interviews, interviewing, and up to two hours of travel time per day.

Subp. 16.

[Repealed, 26 SR 253]

Subp. 17.

Temporary ineligibility.

Counties must reserve a family's position under the child care assistance fund if a family has been receiving child care assistance but is temporarily ineligible for assistance. A county may reserve a family's position under the child care assistance fund if a family is approved to receive child care assistance and reaches the top of the waiting list but is temporarily ineligible for assistance. In its child care fund plan, a county must specify whether it reserves positions under the child care assistance fund for temporarily ineligible families who reach the top of the waiting list and, if so, the criteria used to make the decision whether to reserve a position. Employed participants may be temporarily ineligible for a maximum of 90 days. Child care assistance participants who are students may be temporarily ineligible for a maximum of one academic quarter or semester as determined by the educational institution.

Subp. 18.

Suspension.

Counties must suspend, and may not terminate, a family's child care assistance for up to one continuous year if there are temporary breaks when child care assistance is not needed or the family does not have an authorized provider but the family remains eligible for child care assistance.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 119B.02; 119B.04; 119B.06; 256.01; 256H.01 to 256H.19

History:

14 SR 519; 18 SR 1144; 26 SR 253; 33 SR 695

Published Electronically:

October 29, 2008