049-1 Wyo. Code R. § 1-9

Current through April 27, 2019

Section 1-9 - Benefit Computation

(a) The client or child care provider shall be required to use the method or form prescribed by DFS to report child care expenses and to submit it to DFS.

(b) All bills shall be reviewed for auditing purposes prior to authorizing payment for child care services.

(c) The following steps shall be used to determine the DFS payment level:

(i) Determine the type of child care provider.

(ii) Determine the actual charge for child care.

(iii) Compare the actual charge to the DFS market rate for the type of care used and the state maximum limit.

(iv) Authorize the payment for the lowest amount of actual charge, DFS market rate, or State limit.

(v) If the actual charge exceeds the local market rate or State limit, the client is responsible for the balance.

(d) Participants in the SNAP E & T program shall be limited to child care assistance as outlined for the E & T program unless the subsidy payments are made through the CCDF.

(e) A part day or full day slot shall be purchased for days the parent(s)/caretaker(s) is participating in an approved activity when the licensed child care facility has payment policies which require private pay customers to purchase a child care slot.

(f) When a full day has been authorized at a facility with full day rates, child care shall not be authorized at a second facility during the period of time that the full day began and ended at the first facility.

(g) Payment shall be based on the actual time the recipient is actively participating in work, employment training, an educational program, a POWER work requirement activity, or a SNAP (E & T) component activity.

(i) Subject to the availability of funds, recipients in an approved education program shall be provided at least two (2) hours of dependent day care, if needed, for each hour the applicant is required to be in class, laboratory or other required instructional activity not to exceed the statewide maximum limit.

(ii) Child Care benefits for self-employment activities shall be calculated by dividing the monthly net income by the federal minimum wage prior to deducting the earned income disregard. The result is the number of child care hours which may be authorized per month.

(iii) One (1) hour per day for lunch, if it occurs during the activity schedule, is allowed except for those participating in a SNAP E & T component.

(iv) No more than 12 hours per month for a maximum of two (2) months in each 12 month period for SNAP E & T individual job search is allowed.

(v) Child care hours for the time the client participates in a POWER work requirement activity as verified by the POWER work requirement case manager are allowed.

(vi) Up to one (1) hour per day shall be allowed when needed for transportation time to the child care provider and the work activity.

(vii) Child care shall only be provided for classes that are required to complete the degree or program.

(viii) Time for special situations as indicated by the instructor as part of the class work can be allowed.

(ix) No time shall be allowed for study time.

(h) Payment for child care services cannot exceed 16 hours in a 24 hour day unless:

(i) Overnight travel is necessary for the parent(s)/caretaker(s) to accept or maintain employment, and

(ii) The absence of the parent(s)/caretaker(s) does not exceed 30 days.

(i) Payment to hold a child care slot, for days and/or hours the parent is not participating, in an approved activity shall not be allowed unless contracted by DFS as part of an expansion/collaboration project.

(j) Duplicate payment by DFS when child care is paid by other programs, agencies or persons shall be prohibited.

(k) The amount given to the client or child care provider by another source for child care shall be deducted from the bill prior to DFS payment of the bill.

(l) Payment of child care for arrangements not authorized by DFS shall be the sole responsibility of the client.

(m) Payment shall be made directly to the child care provider and not to the client.

(n) Payment to the provider shall be made based on the provider's usual rate schedule for private pay customers shall not exceed the provider's daily, weekly, or monthly rate and shall not exceed the hourly, part day or full day rates established by the provider for DFS purposes, whichever is less.

(o) Payment rates based on the child's age shall be determined by the child's age on the first day of the month.

(p) Payment for substitute providers shall be the responsibility of the provider who hired the substitute.

(q) DFS-FO worker shall authorize payment on the DFS computer payment system.

(r) DFS has no responsibility for unpaid bills for child care fees charged above the DFS rates or for the collection of the parent(s)/caretaker(s) obligation for the cost of care.

(s) Rates for all child care program categories except payments made with SNAP E & T funds shall be based on Sliding Fee Scale in Appendix A.

(t) Payments subject to SNAP E & T regulations are limited to $200 per month for infants and $175 per month for children two (2) years or older.

(u) Up to an additional $250 per month may be paid for providing special needs services for the care of a child with documented physical or psychological special needs.

(i) The special needs shall be verified and specified by a medical professional.

(ii) The provider shall submit proof of specialized education, experience and/or training to meet the special needs of the child from an appropriate professional.

(iii) The parent(s)/caretaker(s) shall apply for and accept any services which are available to meet the special needs before special needs child care can be approved.

(iv) A DFS or contract supervisor shall approve the payment.

(v) Special needs child care is not respite care.

(v) Payment starting date for new cases is the date of the child care application, the date the child first enters care, or the date the parent began the approved activity, whichever is later when the provider has met the provider eligibility requirements during the 30 day application processing time.

(w) Payment starting date for ongoing cases when a provider change is made shall be the date the change occurred when the Provider Registration process is completed within the 10 day period for reporting changes. If not completed within 10 days of the change, the date shall be the date Provider Registration is complete.

(x) When 10% of the CCDBG funds are remaining, only the following shall be eligible: assistance units where the parent(s)/caretaker(s) is working with income through step two (2) of the sliding fee scale in Appendix A and children in all steps who have special needs.

049-1 Wyo. Code R. § 1-9

Amended, Eff. 10/7/2016.