8 Colo. Code Regs. § 1403-1-3.113

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 1, January 10, 2025

Section 8 CCR 1403-1-3.113 - LOW-INCOME CHILD CARE RE-DETERMINATION

A. The re-determination process shall be conducted no earlier than every twelve (12) months. The Department-prescribed re-determination form must be mailed to households at least forty-five (45) calendar-days prior to the re-determination due date. Adult caretaker(s) or teen parent(s) must complete and return to Child Care staff by the re-determination due date. Adult caretaker(s) or teen parent(s) who do not return eligibility re-determination forms and all required verification may not be eligible for child care benefits.

1. Employed and self-employed adult caretaker(s) or teen parent(s) shall submit documentation of the following:

a. Earned income

1) For ongoing employment, income received during the prior thirty (30) day period shall be used in determining eligibility unless, on a case-by-case basis, the prior thirty (30) day period does not provide an accurate indication of anticipated income, in which case, a county can require verification of up to twelve (12) of the most recent months of income to determine a monthly average. The adult caretaker(s) or teen parent(s) may also provide verification of up to twelve (12) of the most recent months of income if he/she chooses to do so if such verification more accurately reflects a household's current income level.

2) For employment that has begun or changed within the last sixty (60) days, a new employment verification letter may be used.

3) For self-employment income the adult caretaker or teen parent must submit documentation listing his/her income and verification of work-related expenses for the prior thirty (30) day period. On a case-by-case basis, if the prior thirty (30) day period does not provide an accurate indication of anticipated income, a county can require verification of up to twelve (12) of the most recent months of income and expenses to determine a monthly average. An adult caretaker or teen parent may also provide verification of up to twelve (12) of the most recent months of income and expenses if he/she chooses to do so if such verification more accurately reflects a household's current income level. All expenses shall be verified or they will not be allowed.

b. Unearned income received during the prior thirty (30) day period must be used in determining eligibility unless, on a case-by-case basis, the prior thirty (30) day period does not provide an accurate indication of anticipated income, in which case, a county can require verification of up to twelve (12) of the most recent months of income to determine a monthly average. The adult caretaker(s) or teen parent(s) may also provide verification of up to twelve (12) of the most recent months of income if he/she chooses to do so if such verification more accurately reflects a household's current income level.

c. All adult caretaker(s) or teen parent(s) must provide verification of their schedule related to their low-income eligible activity only at application and/or redetermination and only when non-traditional care hours are requested.

d. At application and re-determination, adult caretakers or teen parents must self-declare that their liquid and non-liquid assets do not exceed one million dollars. If assets exceed one million dollars the household is ineligible for CCCAP.

2. Adult caretaker(s) or teen parent(s) in training must submit documentation from the training institution which verifies school schedule (only if reported at application or redetermination and non-traditional care hours are requested), and verifies current student status.

3. Adult caretaker(s) or teen parent(s) must provide the county department with up-to-date immunization records indicating age-appropriate immunizations or a religious or medical exemption age (see sections 25-4-902 and 25-4-908, C.R.S., for exemption requirements) for child(ren) who receive child care from qualified exempt child care providers not related to the child(ren), where care is provided outside of the child's home and the child(ren) are not school.

4. If written documentation is not available at time of eligibility determination, verbal verification from collateral contacts such as the employer or other person issuing the payment may be obtained. Counties shall document the collateral contact verification in the case file to include the date that the information was received, who provided the information, and a contact phone number. Acceptable collateral contacts include but are not limited to:

a. Employers;

b. Landlords;

c. Social/migrant service agencies; and

d. Medical providers who can be expected to provide accurate third party verification.

B. Parent fees shall be reviewed at re-determination. An adjusted parent fee will be based on an average of at least the past thirty (30) days gross income or a best estimate of anticipated income in the event of new employment. Unless, on a case-by-case basis, the prior thirty (30) day period does not provide an accurate indication of anticipated income, in which case a county can require evidence of up to twelve (12) of the most recent months of income. The adult caretaker(s) or teen parent(s) may also provide evidence of up to twelve (12) of the most recent months of income if they choose to do so if such evidence more accurately reflects the adult caretaker or teen parent's current income level. The fee change shall be effective the first full calendar month after the change is reported and verified, and timely written notice is provided.

C. For adult caretaker(s) or teen parent(s) whose children are enrolled in Head Start or Early Head Start, counties must extend re-determination of eligibility to annually coincide with the Head Start or Early Head Start program schedule. These households are still responsible for notifying the county of any changes that may impact eligibility.

8 CCR 1403-1-3.113

45 CR 20, October 25, 2022, effective 10/1/2022

45 CR 24, December 25, 2022, effective 1/14/2023

46 CR 12, June 25, 2023, effective 7/1/2023 (EMERGENCY)

46 CR 14, July 25, 2023, effective 8/14/2023

46 CR 21, November 10, 2023, effective 10/1/2023, exp. 1/27/2024

46 CR 22, November 25, 2023, effective 12/15/2023

47 CR 13, July 10, 2024, effective 7/30/2024