Remember! When a client is attending a formal education program, they must be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours to meet the need for child care.

In the following scenarios we will determine if the household meets an allowable need factor regarding an educational based need and qualifies for child care benefits.

Example 1

Sally and her husband requests child care benefits for their 3 year old daughter, Beth.
Sally attends college classes for her bachelor’s degree on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8 am to 2 pm.  She is enrolled in 9 credit hours. Her husband works Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm.

Beth would be approved child care for the times that Sally school schedule overlaps with Sally’s husband’s work schedule. Beth meets the credit hour requirement for formal education. Child Care would be approved for Monday, Wednesday and Friday for 8 am to 2 pm plus travel time.
Coding would be Full-Time 14.

Example 2

Ross calls the local DHS office to check on his application for child care benefits that he faxed over from the University Center. His parents are no longer able to watch his son Ben, while he finishes his doctorate degree. Ross is not employed but has classes Monday through Friday in the afternoons. He is enrolled in 12 credit hours.

Although Ross is enrolled in 12 credit hours, he is not eligible because child care is not authorized for post-graduate education.

Example 3

Phillip has contacted the local office to apply for child care for his 1 year old son, Billy.  Phillip is a single parent who is attending the local College.  He is required to attend class Monday-Friday from 8 am to 11 am. He is enrolled in 6 credit hours. He is also required to complete an internship for his classes.  The internship is Monday – Friday from 1 pm to 5 pm.

Phillip is eligible for child care services as he meets the need factor of attending school. Phillip meets the credit hour requirement for formal education. Billy would be approved to attend child care from Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm plus travel time.  Billy would be eligible for a weekly 5 rate coding.

Example 4

Phoebe and Michael call the DHS office to obtain information regarding child care benefits. They have two children, Joshua age 4, and Amy age 2. Phoebe and Michael both attend classes at the University and are both considered juniors in their bachelors programs. They are enrolled in 9 credit hours. They have the exact same school schedule so they can ride together to school. Phoebe and Michael need child care while they attend classes.

The household does not meet the need factor for child care. Although obtaining a bachelor’s degree and enrollment in 9 credit hours meets the need factor for subsidized care, both parents in two parent households cannot attend formal education programs to meet the need factor for child care.

Example 5

Sadie and Sam applied for child care for their 6 month old child, Wyatt.  Sadie attends college classes at the local University Monday -Friday from 8 am to 2 pm. Sadie is enrolled in 12 credit hours. Sam attends high school classes.  He is expected to graduate this year and is in class from 8 am to 3:30 pm.

Sadie and Sam meet the need factor for child care.  Sadie is attending college class and meets the credit hour requirement during the time Sam is attending high school classes. Wyatt would be approved for child care Monday through Friday from 8 am to 2 pm plus travel time
Coding would be for weekly 5 rate.

Example 6

Jim applied for childcare for his 3 year old, Josiah. He is attending a truck driving school to receive his CDL License. This school doesn’t use FAFSA. His schedule is Monday- Friday 8 am-5 pm.

Since the school doesn’t accept FAFSA, it is unable to be considered for need factor.

Example 7

Sheri is applying for childcare for her 6 year old daughter, Bella. Sheri is going into CNA classes online. It is not through a trade school that accepts FAFSA. She has a 12 week course where she will also have to participate in clinicals Monday through Friday.

Since she is online only with a program that doesn’t recognize FAFSA, she will be ineligible with this need factor for childcare.

Example 8

Luke applied for child care for his 2 year old child, Cameron. Luke is attending the local university for his bachelor’s degree. His schedule is Tues. and Thurs.,10a-12p and is enrolled in 4 credit hours.

Since Luke does not meet the credit hour requirement of 6 hours, he is not eligible for child care.