Ariz. Admin. Code § 6-5-4917

Current through Register Vol. 30, No. 50, December 13, 2024

Section R6-5-4917 - Waiting List for Child Care Assistance

A. Implementation of a Waiting List for Child Care Assistance.

1. The Department may implement a waiting list for Child Care Assistance whenever it determines that sufficient funding is not available to sustain benefits for all of the applicants requesting assistance.

a. The Department may implement a waiting list for all applicants under subsection (B); or,

b. The Department may implement a partial waiting list and prioritize access to Child Care Assistance for applicants based on income under subsection (D).

2. When the waiting list is in effect, the Department shall place applicants determined to be eligible for Child Care Assistance on the waiting list under this subsection, and shall not authorize Child Care Assistance until the Department determines that sufficient funding is available.

B. Applicants Who Are Subject To the Waiting List. When the waiting list is in effect, the Department shall place applicants determined to be eligible for Child Care Assistance on the waiting list, including individuals who are reapplying for Child Care Assistance following case closure. The Department shall place the following applicants on the waiting list:

1. Applicants who are not Cash Assistance participants but who need Child Care Assistance to maintain employment under R6-5-4912(A).

2. Teen parents who need Child Care Assistance for educational activities under R6-5-4912(D).

3. Applicants who need Child Care Assistance because they are unable or unavailable to care for their own children due to physical, mental, or emotional disability, participation in a drug treatment or court-ordered community service program, or residency in a homeless or domestic violence shelter under R6-5-4912(F).

C. Applicants Who Are Not Subject To the Waiting List. When the waiting list is in effect, the Department shall not place the following applicants determined eligible for Child Care Assistance on the waiting list, and shall proceed to authorize Child Care Assistance under R6-5-4918.

1. Jobs participants who need Child Care Assistance to participate in the Jobs Program, and who are referred to CCA under R6-5-4904(B).

2. Cash Assistance participants who need Child Care Assistance to maintain employment under R6-5-4904(B).

3. CPS referred families, and CPS or DDD foster families who need Child Care Assistance as documented in a CPS or foster care case plan, and who are referred to CCA under R6-5-4904(B).

4. Former Cash Assistance participants who need Child Care Assistance to maintain employment under R6-5-4916(A).

D. Prioritization of Applicants for Child Care Assistance When the Waiting List Is In Effect. The Department shall prioritize applicants for authorization of Child Care Assistance when the waiting list is in effect under this subsection.

1. Prioritization Based On Income.

a. Families with gross monthly incomes at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) receive the highest priority for assistance;

b. The Department shall prioritize the remainder of families applying for Child Care Assistance when the waiting list is in effect in the following order:

i. Families with gross monthly incomes between 101% FPL and 110% FPL;

ii. Families with gross monthly incomes between 111% FPL and 120% FPL;

iii. Families with gross monthly incomes between 121% FPL and 130% FPL;

iv. Families with gross monthly incomes between 131% FPL and 140% FPL;

v. Families with gross monthly incomes between 141% FPL and 150% FPL;

vi. Families with gross monthly incomes between 151% FPL and 160% FPL;

vii. Families with gross monthly incomes between 161% FPL and 165% FPL;

2. Prioritization Based On Application Date. The Department shall place clients determined eligible for Child Care Assistance on the waiting list effective the date that the Department receives an identifiable application, under R6-5-4904(A)(2).

E. Cooperation Requirement for Clients on the Waiting List.

1. Clients shall cooperate with the Department to maintain eligibility while on the waiting list, under R6-5-4911(A).

2. If the family's household income changes, the client shall notify the Department of the change in income within 2 workdays.

3. If someone moves in or out of the household, the client is required to notify the Department within 2 workdays.

4. The Department shall recalculate gross household income and notify the client of any changes in priority status described under subsection (D) based on the change in income or family size.

F. Loss of Employment While On the Waiting List.

1. If the parent or caretaker of the child loses employment while on the waiting list, the family may remain on the waiting list without an eligible activity.

2. When the Department selects the family for release from the waiting list under subsection (H), the Department shall require the parent or caretaker of the child to verify participation in an eligible activity under R6-5-4912 before the Department authorizes the family to receive Child Care Assistance.

G. Determination of Ineligibility While On the Waiting List.

1. If the family becomes ineligible for Child Care Assistance while on the waiting list, or during release from the waiting list under subsection (J), the Department shall remove the client from the waiting list and close the case.

2. The client shall submit a new application and verify eligibility for Child Care Assistance in order to be added back onto the list effective the new application date.

H. Selection from the Waiting List.

1. The Department shall select clients for release from the waiting list within each level of income priority as described under subsection (D), and in application date order.

2. When the Department notifies the client that he or she is being released from the waiting list, the Department may require the client to verify income, employment, other household circumstances or provider selection prior to being authorized for Child Care Assistance.

I. Clients Determined Eligible Upon Selection for Release from the Waiting List.

1. The Department shall authorize Child Care Assistance effective a date specified by the Department based on the availability of funding, after the client has submitted any requested verification and the Department has determined that the family remains eligible for Child Care Assistance.

2. If the client is eligible for Child Care Assistance, the Department shall authorize Child Care Assistance, and shall notify the client in writing regarding:

a. The start date of Child Care Assistance;

b. The amount of assistance authorized for each child under R6-5-4918; and

c. The assigned fee level and copayment for each child.

J. Clients Determined Ineligible Upon Selection for Release from the Waiting List.

1. If the client is not eligible for Child Care Assistance as described in R6-5-4920, the Department shall notify the client regarding ineligibility under R6-5-4921.

2. The Department shall require the client to submit a new application and verify eligibility for Child Care Assistance in order to be added back onto the list effective the new application date, if a waiting list remains in effect.

K. Clients Selected for Release from the Waiting List in Error.

1. If the Department determines that a client was not eligible for selection from the waiting list, and the waiting list remains in effect, the Department shall proceed as described under this subsection.

2. If the Department determines that the client is currently at a lower level of priority for assistance under subsection (D)(1) due to a previously unreported change in income or family size, the Department shall not authorize Child Care Assistance.

3. The Department shall reinstate the client on the waiting list effective the existing application date; and,

4. Notify the family in writing of reinstatement to the waiting list and the newly assigned level of priority.

Ariz. Admin. Code § R6-5-4917

Adopted effective July 31, 1997, under an exemption from the provisions of A.R.S. Title 41, Chapter 6 (Supp. 97-3). Former R6-5-4917 renumbered to R6-5-4918; new R6-5-4917 made by exempt rulemaking at 13 A.A.R. 92, effective December 31, 2006 (Supp. 06-4).

The following Section was adopted under an exemption from the provisions of A.R.S. Title 41, Chapter 6, pursuant to Laws 1997, Ch. 300, § 74(A). Exemption from A.R.S. Title 41, Chapter 6 means the Department did not submit notice of proposed rulemaking to the Secretary of State for publication in the Arizona Administrative Register; the Department did not submit these rules to the Governor's Regulatory Review Council for review and approval; and the Department was not required to hold public hearings on this Section.