N.M. Admin. Code § 8.9.3.13

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 17, September 10, 2024

Section 8.9.3.13 - CLIENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Clients must abide by the regulations set forth by the department and utilize child care assistance benefits only while they are working, seeking employment, attending school or participating in a training or educational program.

A. Copayments: Copayments are paid by all clients receiving child care assistance benefits, except for at-risk child care and qualified grandparents or legal guardians. Copayments are determined by income and household size. The copayment schedule is published yearly at https://www.nmececd.org/child-care-assistance/. In the case of an emergency, or under extenuating circumstances, the department secretary may waive copayments for families receiving child care, during which period, the department will pay providers the client's approved rate, including required copayments. If copayments are waived, three months notice will be given to providers and families prior to reinstatement.

B. Copayments described in Subsection A of 8.9.3.13 NMAC, are used for determining the base copayment for the first eligible child. The formula for determining the copayment amount based on the copayment schedule is the gross monthly household income multiplied by the applicable percent of the federal poverty level percentage (FPL) for family size (see, Subsection D of 8.9.3.13 NMAC), which will equal the monthly copayment. The base copayments for the second child in the family is determined at one half of the copayment for the previous child. If there are more than two children in the household accessing child care assistance, the copayment will be waived for any additional children.

(1) The first child is identified as the child requiring the most hours of child care.

(2) The second child is identified as the child with the second most number of hours needed for child care.

C. Each child's copayment will be adjusted based on the units of services described in Subsection E of 8.9.3.17 NMAC, as follows:

(1) full time care will be based on one hundred percent of the base copayment;

(2) part time 1 care will be based on seventy-five percent of the base copayment;

(3) part time 2 care will be based on fifty percent of the base copayment; and

(4) part time 3 care will be based on twenty-five percent of the base copayment.

D. Below is the cost sharing chart with the formula used to determine child care copayments as set forth immediately above and as published yearly at https://www.nmececd.org/child-care-assistance/:

FPL Percent Income Increments	Percent of Gross Income (Monthly) to Determine Copay
0.00 to 185.00	0.00%
185.01 to 200	0.29%
200.01 to 210	0.59%
210.01 to 220	0.88%
220.01 to 230	1.18%
230.01 to 240	1.47%
240.01 to 250	1.76%
250.01 to 260	2.06%
260.01 to 270	2.35%
270.01 to 280	2.65%
280.01 to 290	2.94%
290.01 to 300	3.24%
300.01 to 310	3.53%
310.01 to 320	3.82%
320.01 to 330	4.12%
330.01 to 340	4.41%
340.01 to 350	4.71%
350+	5.00%

E. Clients pay copayments directly to their child care provider and must remain current in their payments. A client who does not pay copayments may be subject to sanctions.

F. In-home providers: Parents or legal guardians who choose to use an in-home provider become the employer of the child care provider and must comply with all federal and state requirements related to employers, such as the payment of all federal and state employment taxes and the provision of wage information. Any parent or legal guardian who chooses to employ an in-home provider releases and holds the department harmless from any and all actions resulting from their status as an employer. Payments for in-home provider care are made directly to the parent or legal guardian.

G. Notification of changes: Clients must provide notification of changes via fax, e-mail, or telephone that affect the need for care to their local child care assistance office.

(1) A client must notify the department of any non-temporary change in activity or changes to household composition. Notifications must be provided within 14 calendar days of the change.

(2) A client must notify the department when their household income exceeds eighty-five percent of the state median income, taking into account any fluctuation(s) of income.

(3) A client must notify the department of any changes to their contact information.

(4) A client who changes a provider must notify the department and the current provider 14 calendar days prior to the expected last day of enrollment. If this requirement for notification is met by the client, the current provider will be paid through the 14th calendar day. If this notification requirement is not met, the current provider will be paid 14 calendar days from the last date of nonattendance. The child care placement agreement with the new provider shall become effective when payment to the previous provider ceases. The client will be responsible for payment to the new provider beginning on the start date at the new provider and until the final date of payment to the former provider.

(5) If the client has not used the authorized provider for 14 consecutive calendar days, the child will be disenrolled from that provider and the client will remain eligible for the remainder of their eligibility period.

(6) Clients who do not comply with this requirement may be sanctioned.

N.M. Admin. Code § 8.9.3.13

Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXIII, Issue 20, October 25, 2022, eff. 11/1/2022, Amended by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXIV, Issue 13, July 18, 2023, eff. 8/1/2023