approvable consumers and activities

D.  Allowable Activities for WCCC Consumers

Revised: April 10, 2006

Consumers who are TANF recipients
Consumers who are not TANF recipients
Self-Employed Consumers
Consumers who are not in approved activities

Effective May 28, 2004

Effective May 28, 2004

Clarifying information

1. College work study: If the consumer wants child care authorized:

   1. For both class time and work study hours, they must participate in work study at least 16 hours per week.

   2. Only for the time they are in work study, there is no minimum hour requirement.

2. Education and training programs:

   1. Consumers who are working 20 hours or more each week, 16 hours each week if the employment is work study, may receive child care to participate in education and training programs. A consumers can combine work study and work hours to equal a minimum of 20 when the minimum of 16 hours of work study are not met.

   2. The community or technical college must be accredited and the courses must be part of a vocational program that leads to a degree or certificate in a specific job or skill. If the consumer is:

      1. TANF, the activity must be approved by the WorkFirst program specialist (WFPS). A TANF client, is limited to participate in a voc ed program for a maximum of 12 months.

      2. Non-TANF, they must attend an accredited community or technical college. The consumer may be asked to turn in their school schedule to verify their vocational education. The classes must meet WAC 388-290-0045(5). For a non-TANF consumer, the maximum amount of care authorized for education and training is a total of 36 months (This includes any monthe while on TANF).

   We do not monitor for satisfactory progress in educational activities. If there is a question about actual attendance in the classes, request the WCCC consumer (student) provide an official school attendance document. If the documentation is not received, the AW can take appropriate action such as: processing an overpayment, adjusting the authorization, or sending a termination. If the supplied information is questionable, confusing, or outdated, request official school enrolment and schedule documents.

3. Employment: Consumers do not have to actually file taxes for their employment to be considered employment. However the activity must be legal, income generating, and the income taxable.

   1. According to WAC 388-290-020(1)  Consumers "might be eligible for WCCC" if they are employed at a child care center and not providing direct care to their own children.

   2. A consumer does not need to make minimum wage to be eligible for WCCC.

   3. Consumers who request child care just for employment do not have to work a minimum number of hours per week. For example: An applicant who only works 12 hours a week may receive WCCC.  This includes consumers who are requesting child care for work study hours only.

   4. Refer to the self employment under the Clarifying Information under WAC 388-290-0050. TANF consumers must have their self employment plan approved by their WFPS to be considered for WCCC eligibility.

   5. Working for a WCCC consumer as a In home/Relative child care provider is considered employment. The child care provider can apply for WCCC.

4. Food Stamp Employment and Training (FS E&T) participants: Referred by Employment Security staff after they have been determined eligible. FS E&T activities consist of job search and educational activities deemed appropriate by Employment Security staff. See chapter 388-444 WAC.

5. High School/GED completion:  High school and GED (HS/GED) programs administered through high schools (Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, OSPI) or the community and technical colleges (Community Trade and Economic Development, CTED) are accepted by and transferable to higher education programs in Washington. Therefore, WCCC can be authorized for consumers who are enrolled in HS/GED programs administered by OSPI or CTED.

   HS/GED program participants do not need to meet the work requirement when they are:

   1. TANF clients who are 18 and 19 years old and temporarily deferred from work requirements due to participation in HS/GED activities; or

   2. Non-TANF consumers completing a high school or a GED program who are under 22 years of age. They do not need to be employed. This includes consumers with child only grants.

We do not monitor for satisfactory progress in educational activities. If there is a question about actual attendance in the classes, request the WCCC consumer (student) provide an official school attendance document. If the documentation is not received, the AW can take appropriate action such as: processing an overpayment, adjusting the authorization, or sending a termination. If the supplied information is questionable, confusing, or outdated, request official school enrolment and schedule documents.

6. Internships and practicums:

   1. TANF recipients: See WAC 388-310-1000 (2)(c) - WorkFirst Vocational education.

   2. Non-TANF recipients will be eligible for WCCC while participating in an internship or practicum, (not limited to 12 months) if the internship or practicum is linked to Vocational Education as defined in WAC 388-310-1000 (1) and:

      1. Paid and equals 20 or more hours a week, or

      2. Unpaid and the consumer has outside employment of 20 or more hours a week, or 16 or more hours in a Work Study job, and the internship or practicum.

7. IRP activities: WAC 388-310-0200 lists the approved WorkFirst activities. Section, (2)(l) states: "Other activities identified by your case manager on your individual responsibility plan that will help you with situations such as: drug and / or alcohol abuse, homelessness, or mental health issues". If the case manager has included approved activities such as: medical appointments, AA meetings, or looking for housing in the IRP: WCCC can cover those activities as long as the consumer meets other eligibility requirements. The WFPS may list some activities on the IRP for tracking only this does not mean the activity is "approved/approvable". If a consumer has a history of inconsistent participation or lack of participation in the WorkFirst program a shorter time period may be authorized or a tickle may be set for the component end date.

8. Post-Employment services:  These services are designed to help keep current and former WorkFirst participants employed, attached to the labor market and gaining skills to help them increase their wages.  (See WorkFirst chapter 4.1)

9. Same day job search: 'Same Day Job Search' refers to approving a TANF applicant for WCCC during their application period for same day job search. It does not refer to the length of eligibility for the job search child care. Refer to the following guidelines when authorizing care for same day job search:

   1. If the TANF case is put into pending, authorize the care for no longer than the end date of that pending period.

   2. If we have history that indicates this applicant has not shown stable activity or participation, a 2-4 week time period may be appropriate. Remember that the client will be subject to a review by the case manager at 4 weeks and 12 weeks if they have not found a job yet.

   3. Requests for benefits for TANF must be processed within 30 days of receipt. This 30 day window could be used as a guideline for the child care authorization since most of these cases will have had a determination made for benefits by that time.

9. Sanction-DCS:  The consumer is in sanction due to non-cooperation with the Division of Child Support, but still has a child on the TANF grant. These recipients must still meet WorkFirst participation requirements. WCCC can cover approved activities as listed in the consumer's IRP.

10. Sanction-WorkFirst: The consumer is In WorkFirst sanction or Child SafetyNet Payment status, and is:

    1. In their cooperation period and meeting WorkFirst requirements prior to being placed back on the TANF grant.

    2. Working.  The consumer can get WCCC for work related hours even if they are not working enough hours to remove the sanctions or Child SafetyNet.

11. Tribal TANF approved activities or employment: Certain tribes in Washington have chosen to offer TANF grants and manage their own type of WorkFirst program. A tribal member receiving tribal TANF must participate according to the specific Tribal requirements. These requirements may not be the same as those for WorkFirst participants. Tribal TANF recipients may receive child care from the tribe or DSHS. This is called "dual eligibility".

    When the Tribal TANF recipient requests child care from DSHS, the recipient is subject to WCCC rules regarding family, income, copayments, etc. and:

    1. Tribe must inform DSHS of the approved hours of Tribal "WorkFirst" participation; or

    2. Recipient, if employed, must provide DSHS with the employment information.

12. VISTA volunteers, Americorps and Washington Service Corps (WSC): These applicants may receive WCCC if they are receiving taxable income from VISTA, Americorps or WSC and are otherwise eligible.

Self Employment

See WAC 388-310-1700 WorkFirst - Self-employment.

See WAC 388-450-0085 How we count your self-employment income

Effective May 28, 2004

clarifying information

TANF recipients pursuing self-employment must:

1. Be working at least 32 hours a week at the business;

2. Have business income that is equal to the minimum wage (state or federal, whichever is higher) times 32 hours a week after the business expenses are subtracted; and

3. Have their self-employment plan approved by the local business resource center.

Non-TANF recipients pursuing self-employment must:

1. Have an established income generating business which the consumer has been engaged in for 6 or more months at the time of application. The consumer must meet the income guidelines for WCCC. If the consumer can verify the self-employment business has been established for the last 6 months, it is considered a new self-employment business.

2. Consumers are allowed the calculation in 388-290-0050(4)(a) one time only (per household). If there is a gap between applications or a change in the type of self-employment, the next time they apply for WCCC as a self-employed consumer, their hours and income are calculated as described in 388-290-0050(4)(c). The self employment activity information can be entered into the “FLAG” screen in WCAP to keep track of when this allowable calculation has been used.

consumers In activities that are not approved

Effective May 28, 2004

clarifying information

1. If the consumer uses any care during an authorized "gap" it is counted as one of their two allowable "gaps" per year.

2. Care is authorized at the same type of unit and number of unit, not to exceed 22, as the consumer was previously authorized. For example, if the consumer was approved for 15 half days, authorize a total of 15 half days for the "gap" activity.

3. Occasionally, consumers may request child care coverage for an activity not listed in WAC. Handle these requests by exploring with the consumer other child care resources such as from Division of Vocational Rehabilitation or Child Protective / Welfare Services. Additionally, the process of submitting a Rule Exception Request or RER (DSHS 05-010) is available.