SR 12-16 Dated 07/12

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

INTER-DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATION

SUMMARY

This SR releases the annual increases to the gross income eligibility levels for NH Child Care Scholarship Steps 1-7 based on the 2012 Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG): Step 1 (=100% of the FPG); Step 2 (>100%, but = 120% of the FPG); Step 3 (>120%, but = 140% of the FPG); Step 4 (>140%, but = 160% of the FPG); Step 5 (>160%, but = 190% of the FPG); Step 6 (>190%, but = 220% of the FPG); and Step 7 (>220%, but = 250% of the FPG).

As an unrelated change, this SR also releases the obsoletion of Form 246, Contract Agency Authorization, and it's Associated Instructions, DFA Form 246(i).

BACKGROUND

NH Child Care Scholarship is used to help support families who meet income eligibility requirements of up to 250% of the annual FPG while they are employed, searching for a job or in an approved training activity.

POLICY

The gross income limits for NH Child Care Scholarship eligibility at Steps 1 - 7, effective July 1, 2012, are updated annually in July to reflect the current year’s poverty income guidelines. The increases noted below reflect the 2012 changes to the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines published in the Federal Register of January 26, 2012.

In addition, Form 246, Contract Agency Authorization, and its associated instructions, Form 246(i), are being obsoleted because DHHS no longer contracts with certain child care centers to determine eligibility. These centers are referred to in this form as the "Contract Agency". The form was used to transmit data collected on the application (DFA Form 800) to the Data Management Unit for entry into the EMS system. Only Contract Agencies collected the applications and this process and system no longer exists. In addition, this form was never revised as indicated in SR 01-02 to track verified eligibility of a child with a disability. This information is now verified in New Heights using CDB Form 2628, Verification for a Child with a Disability.

NEW HEIGHTS SYSTEMS PROCEDURES AND IMPLEMENTATION

Approximately 3,893 NH Child Care Scholarship cases will be run through a Mass Change the evenings of June 18 and 19, 2012. New HEIGHTS will recalculate NH Child Care Scholarship eligibility for open child care cases whose gross income is less than or equal to the income limits for Steps 1 through 7. Cases that change steps will receive a standard message identifying the individuals in the case that are now eligible for the corrected step and cost share. No other cases will be recalculated.

DESCRIPTION OF REVISIONS MADE TO FORMS

Form 246 Contract Agency Authorization, and its associated instructions, Form 246(i), are being obsoleted for the following reasons:

·   Eligibility is no longer determined by child care centers and contracted agencies for child care do not exist.

·   Child Care centers do not collect applications (Form 800) or information that would need to be transmitted for entry into New HEIGHTS, which has replaced the EMS system.

·   The form was never revised as indicated in SR 01-02 for contract agencies to track a child with a verified disability.

FORMS POSTING INSTRUCTIONS

POLICY MANUAL REVISIONS

Revised Family Assistance Manual Topics

PART 935  GROSS MONTHLY INCOME LIMITS

IMPLEMENTATION

Changes identified in this SR are effective July 1, 2012 for current cases, and will apply to any new cases processed on or after that date.

POST-MASS CHANGE REPORTS

The following mass change reports will be produced and will be available in New HEIGHTS on June 19 and June 20, respectively:

NMC540RA: AG’s Affected by MC

This report lists all cases that the Mass Change ran successfully through confirmation. It contains the following information: DO, Worker Name, Client Name, and Case Number. This report will be run each night of the Mass Change, June 18 and 19, so will be available the morning following each of those dates.

NMC550RA: MC Exception

This report lists cases that were selected for computation during the Mass Change, but were not confirmed due to some discrepancy in data. These cases require further District Office action. The report contains the following information: DO, Worker Name, Client Name, Case Number, Reason for Exception, and Mass Change Type. This report will be run each night of the Mass Change, June 18 and 19, so will be available the morning following each of those dates.

CLIENT NOTIFICATION

Clients experiencing any changes in their scholarship will receive a New HEIGHTS-generated letter (AE0024-client copy) containing the corrected information for their step level and cost share. Clients will be advised of the new child care gross income limits at applications or redeterminations on or after July 1, 2012. Child Care Resource and Referral programs will distribute the updated table to families as appropriate. The income eligibility guidelines will be posted on the Child Care Scholarships page of the DHHS website. No other client notification is planned.

Childcare providers will receive a New HEIGHTS-generated letter (AE0024-provider copy) for any family whose scholarship changes with the corrected information regarding the family’s step level and cost share. The Child Development Bureau will send the income eligibility guidelines to any child care provider as needed or upon request. All new and re-enrolling providers receive the information in the enrollment packet. The Child Care Resource & Referral agencies will distribute the updated table electronically to all of the providers in their email database. The income eligibility guidelines will be posted on the Child Care Scholarships page of the DHHS website.

TRAINING

No special training is planned or needed due to the procedural nature of the SR.

DISPOSITION

This SR may be destroyed or deleted after its contents have been noted and the revised manual topics released by this SR have been posted to the On-line manuals.

DISTRIBUTION

This SR will be distributed according to the electronic distribution list for Division of Family Assistance policy releases. This SR, and revised On-Line Family Assistance Manual, will be available for agency staff in the On-Line Manual Library, and for public access on the Internet at www.dhhs.nh.gov/DFA/publications.htm effective July 2, 2012. Additionally, this SR, and printed pages with posting instructions, will be distributed under separate cover to all internal hard copy holders of Family Assistance Manual.

CDB/KB