340:40-7-12(6)

1. Should income verification be requested at renewal for a client who meets the policy requirements to have no household income considered for an adopted child?  No. Adoptive families who continue to meet the policy requirements for child care with no household income considered should NOT be asked to provide proof of income at the time of initial application or at renewal. Case notes should clearly document that these families have no income considered and why so that any worker who may handle the case can see that income verification is not required.
2. Do qualified adoptive families have to provide copies of their work schedules?  Adoptive families can either choose to provide a work schedule from the employer, or they can declare their work schedules as long as they provide pay stubs or other pay information that shows hours worked.
3. Is it acceptable for reception staff to pre-screen benefit requests to determine if a client should apply?  No. If a client turns in a request for benefits, he or she should be interviewed by a case worker to determine if they will be eligible for the benefits. Adoptive families are a perfect example for this issue. Many adoptive families appear, at first glance, to be over income for child care. However, because their income is not considered, they are eligible if they meet the policy requirements. Without an interview, we cannot see the big picture to properly determine eligibility.
4. Will a client who adopted a child through DHS have a copayment for their child care benefits?  If the client meets all of the policy requirements, the household income is not considered and there will not be a copayment.
5. Once an adopted child turns 6, is the adoption subsidy considered as income?  No. Adoption subsidies are never considered as income for child care benefits.
6. Is a family still eligible for child care with no income considered if one parent is employed and one parent is disabled?  As long as the adoptive parents meet one or more of the need factors, household income is not considered. In this instance, the worker must explore the protective/preventive need factor for the family.
7. If there is a gap in time between when a client adopts a child and when he or she applies for child care benefits, can the benefits be back dated?  No. Child care is never back dated. Child care is only approved after the client has been interviewed and all verification has been provided.
8. Can a client apply for child care benefits for a child he or she will adopt in the future?  Yes. As long as the client will adopt the child within 30 days, application can be made in advance. This is recommended to help these families avoid a break in child care benefits. The client should be interviewed and given a 08AD092E (ADM-92) for the verifications he or she will need to provide once the adoption is finalized. The foster care child care will close the day of the adoption. Child care benefits can be approved on the AFS case effective the date the verifications are provided or the day after the adoption if all verifications have been provided.
9. Do adoptive families have to renew their child care benefits like other cases?  Yes. All child care benefits are benefit reporters and must be renewed every 12 months.
10. When an adoptive child turns 6 during the 12 month eligibility period, should the child care be closed the day before the child turns 6?  When a child receiving a post-adoptive child care benefit turns 6 during an eligibility period, the child care is allowed to remain open until the next renewal.