SR 15-16 Dated 07/15 |
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
INTER-DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATION
FROM OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR, DFA: |
Terry R. Smith |
DFA SIGNATURE DATE: |
May 21, 2015 |
FROM OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR, DCYF: |
Lorraine Bartlett |
DCYF SIGNATURE DATE: |
May 19, 2015 |
AT (OFFICE): |
Division of Family Assistance |
TO: |
Division for Children, Youth and Families District Office Supervisors NHEP Teams Child Development Bureau Staff
|
SUBJECT: |
Increase to the Gross Income Eligibility Levels for NH Child Care Scholarship Steps 1 - 7 Based on the 2015 Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG); Release of DCYF/Child Development Bureau Form 2532, Child Care Scholarship Income Eligibility Levels |
EFFECTIVE DATE: |
July 1, 2015 |
SUMMARY
This SR releases the following:
· annual increases to the gross income eligibility levels for NH Child Care Scholarship Steps 1-7 based on the 2015 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); and
· new Division for Children, Youth and Families (DCYF)/Child Development Bureau (CDB) Form 2532, Child Care Scholarship Income Eligibility Levels.
BACKGROUND
NH Child Care Scholarship is used to help support families who meet income eligibility requirements of up to and including 250% of the annual FPG while they are employed, searching for a job or in an approved training activity.
DCYF is now requiring that a form number be assigned to all documents that are distributed to the field. The new DCYF/CDB Form 2532, Child Care Scholarship Income Eligibility Levels, was previously a reference sheet titled, Income Eligibility Levels, and was updated annually.
POLICY
The gross income limits for NH Child Care Scholarship eligibility at Steps 1 – 7 are updated annually in July to reflect the current year’s federal poverty income guidelines, and are effective July 1, 2015. The increases noted below reflect the 2015 changes to the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines published in the Federal Register of January 22, 2015.
Family Size |
Step 1 |
Step 2 |
Step 3 |
Step 4 |
||||
100% of Poverty |
120% |
140% |
160% |
|||||
Monthly |
Yearly |
Monthly |
Yearly |
Monthly |
Yearly |
Monthly |
Yearly |
|
1 |
$981.00 |
$11,770.00 |
$1,177.00 |
$14,124.00 |
$1,374.00 |
$16,478.00 |
$1,570.00 |
$18,832.00 |
2 |
$1,328.00 |
$15,930.00 |
$1,593.00 |
$19,116.00 |
$1,859.00 |
$22,302.00 |
$2,124.00 |
$25,488.00 |
3 |
$1,675.00 |
$20,090.00 |
$2,009.00 |
$24,108.00 |
$2,344.00 |
$28,126.00 |
$2,679.00 |
$32,144.00 |
4 |
$2,021.00 |
$24,250.00 |
$2,425.00 |
$29,100.00 |
$2,830.00 |
$33,950.00 |
$3,234.00 |
$38,800.00 |
5 |
$2,368.00 |
$28,410.00 |
$2,841.00 |
$34,092.00 |
$3,315.00 |
$39,774.00 |
$3,788.00 |
$45,456.00 |
6 |
$2,715.00 |
$32,570.00 |
$3,257.00 |
$39,084.00 |
$3,800.00 |
$45,598.00 |
$4,343.00 |
$52,112.00 |
7 |
$3,061.00 |
$36,730.00 |
$3,673.00 |
$44,076.00 |
$4,286.00 |
$51,422.00 |
$4,898.00 |
$58,768.00 |
8 |
$3,408.00 |
$40,890.00 |
$4,089.00 |
$49,068.00 |
$4,771.00 |
$57,246.00 |
$5,452.00 |
$65,424.00 |
9 |
$3,755.00 |
$45,050.00 |
$4,505.00 |
$54,060.00 |
$5,256.00 |
$63,070.00 |
$6,007.00 |
$72,080.00 |
10 |
$4,101.00 |
$49,210.00 |
$4,921.00 |
$59,052.00 |
$5,742.00 |
$68,894.00 |
$6,562.00 |
$78,736.00 |
11 |
$4,448.00 |
$53,370.00 |
$5,337.00 |
$64,044.00 |
$6,227.00 |
$74,718.00 |
$7,116.00 |
$85,392.00 |
12 |
$4,795.00 |
$57,530.00 |
$5,753.00 |
$69,036.00 |
$6,712.00 |
$80,542.00 |
$7,671.00 |
$92,048.00 |
13 |
$5,141.00 |
$61,690.00 |
$6,169.00 |
$74,028.00 |
$7,198.00 |
$86,366.00 |
$8,226.00 |
$98,704.00 |
14 |
$5,488.00 |
$65,850.00 |
$6,585.00 |
$79,020.00 |
$7,683.00 |
$92,190.00 |
$8,780.00 |
$105,360.00 |
15 |
$5,835.00 |
$70,010.00 |
$7,001.00 |
$84,012.00 |
$8,168.00 |
$98,014.00 |
$9,335.00 |
$112,016.00 |
16 |
$6,181.00 |
$74,170.00 |
$7,417.00 |
$89,004.00 |
$8,654.00 |
$103,838.00 |
$9,890.00 |
$118,672.00 |
17 |
$6,528.00 |
$78,330.00 |
$7,833.00 |
$93,996.00 |
$9,139.00 |
$109,662.00 |
$10,444.00 |
$125,328.00 |
EACH ADD’L: |
$347.00 |
$4,160.00 |
$416.00 |
$4,992.00 |
$486.00 |
$5,824.00 |
$555.00 |
$6,656.00 |
Family Size |
Step 5 |
Step 6 |
Step 7 |
|||
190% |
220% |
250% |
||||
Monthly |
Yearly |
Monthly |
Yearly |
Monthly |
Yearly |
|
1 |
$1,864.00 |
$22,363.00 |
$2,158.00 |
$25,894.00 |
$2,453.00 |
$29,425.00 |
2 |
$2,523.00 |
$30,267.00 |
$2,921.00 |
$35,046.00 |
$3,319.00 |
$39,825.00 |
3 |
$3,181.00 |
$38,171.00 |
$3,684.00 |
$44,198.00 |
$4,186.00 |
$50,225.00 |
4 |
$3,840.00 |
$46,075.00 |
$4,446.00 |
$53,350.00 |
$5,053.00 |
$60,625.00 |
5 |
$4,499.00 |
$53,979.00 |
$5,209.00 |
$62,502.00 |
$5,919.00 |
$71,025.00 |
6 |
$5,157.00 |
$61,883.00 |
$5,972.00 |
$71,654.00 |
$6,786.00 |
$81,425.00 |
7 |
$5,816.00 |
$69,787.00 |
$6,734.00 |
$80,806.00 |
$7,653.00 |
$91,825.00 |
8 |
$6,475.00 |
$77,691.00 |
$7,497.00 |
$89,958.00 |
$8,519.00 |
$102,225.00 |
9 |
$7,133.00 |
$85,595.00 |
$8,260.00 |
$99,110.00 |
$9,386.00 |
$112,625.00 |
10 |
$7,792.00 |
$93,499.00 |
$9,022.00 |
$108,262.00 |
$10,253.00 |
$123,025.00 |
11 |
$8,451.00 |
$101,403.00 |
$9,785.00 |
$117,414.00 |
$11,119.00 |
$133,425.00 |
12 |
$9,109.00 |
$109,307.00 |
$10,548.00 |
$126,566.00 |
$11,986.00 |
$143,825.00 |
13 |
$9,768.00 |
$117,211.00 |
$11,310.00 |
$135,718.00 |
$12,853.00 |
$154,225.00 |
14 |
$10,427.00 |
$125,115.00 |
$12,073.00 |
$144,870.00 |
$13,719.00 |
$164,625.00 |
15 |
$11,085.00 |
$133,019.00 |
$12,836.00 |
$154,022.00 |
$14,586.00 |
$175,025.00 |
16 |
$11,744.00 |
$140,923.00 |
$13,598.00 |
$163,174.00 |
$15,453.00 |
$185,425.00 |
17 |
$12,403.00 |
$148,827.00 |
$14,361.00 |
$172,326.00 |
$16,319.00 |
$195,825.00 |
EACH ADD’L: |
$659.00 |
$7,904.00 |
$763.00 |
$9,152.00 |
$867.00 |
$10,400.00 |
NEW HEIGHTS SYSTEMS PROCEDURES AND IMPLEMENTATION
Approximately 4125 NH Child Care Scholarship cases will be run through a Mass Change the evenings of June 22 and 23, 2015. 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 updated step and cost share. No other cases will be recalculated.
DESCRIPTION OF REVISIONS MADE TO FORMS
New DCYF, Child Development Bureau Form 2532, Child Care Scholarship Income Eligibility Levels, has previously been available as a reference sheet used by Client Services staff, Child Development Bureau staff, Child Care Resource and Referral, and child care providers, to approximate eligibility and step level for families. New HEIGHTS automatically determines eligibility and calculates step level based on the family size and income entered into the system by the Family Service Specialist (FSS). This new form is two-sided with the Income Eligibility Levels for Child Care Scholarship based on family size and monthly or annual income at a percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines on one side and family cost share information on the other. The gross income eligibility levels for NH Child Care Scholarship Steps 1-7 based on the annual Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) provided on DCYF/CDB Form 2532 are as follows: 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). A key for the following terms is provided on the form: Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG), Family Size, Income, and Step.
The reverse of this form includes information about Family Cost Share and how it functions, the percent of family income that is assigned to each step level to determine the family cost share, and how cost share differs from co-pay and how co-pay functions.
Since this form is a reference tool, no instructions are provided.
This new DCYF/CDB Form 2532, Child Care Scholarship Income Eligibility Levels, is effective July 1, 2015. The reference sheet titled, “Income Eligibility Levels, Effective July 2014” should be destroyed and not used after June 30, 2015. A Certificate of Destruction has been included at the end of this SR. This form is available electronically, for Department staff only, on the Lotus Notes Family Services Database. It will be emailed to Client Services staff by the Client Services Administrator and can also be accessed on the Child Development Bureau Forms page of the DHHS website http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dcyf/cdb/forms.htm. Paper copies will not be distributed to the District Offices.
POLICY MANUAL REVISIONS
Revised Family Assistance Manual Topics
PART 935 NH CHILD CARE SCHOLARSHIP GROSS MONTHLY INCOME LIMITS
IMPLEMENTATION
Changes identified in this SR are effective July 1, 2015 for current cases, and will apply to any new cases processed on or after that date.
New DCYF/CDB Form 2532, Child Care Scholarship Income Eligibility Levels, is effective July 1, 2015. The reference sheet titled, “Income Eligibility Levels, Effective July 2014” should be destroyed and not used after June 30, 2015. A Certificate of Destruction has been included at the end of this SR. This form is available electronically, for Department staff only, on the Lotus Notes Family Services Database. It can also be accessed on the Child Development Bureau Forms page of the DHHS website http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dcyf/cdb/forms.htm.
POST-MASS CHANGE REPORTS
The following mass change reports will be produced and will be available in New HEIGHTS on June 23 and June 24, 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 22 and 23, and 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 22 and 23, and will be available the morning following each of those dates.
CLIENT NOTIFICATION
Clients experiencing any changes in their child care scholarship will receive a New HEIGHTS-generated letter (AE0024-client copy) containing the updated information for their step level and cost share. Clients will be advised of the new child care gross income limits at application or redetermination and on the NOD on or after July 1, 2015. Child Care Resource and Referral programs will distribute DCYF/CDB Form 2532, Child Care Scholarship Income Eligibility Levels, to families as appropriate. The form will also be posted on the Child Development Bureau Forms page of the DHHS website. No other client notification is planned.
Child care providers will receive a New HEIGHTS-generated letter (AE0024-provider copy) for any family whose scholarship changes with the updated information regarding the family’s step level and cost share. The Child Development Bureau will send DCYF/CDB Form 2532, containing the income eligibility guidelines to any child care provider as needed or upon request. All new and re-enrolling providers receive DCYF/CDB Form 2532 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. Providers may also access DCYF/CDB Form 2532, containing the income eligibility guidelines on the Child Development Bureau Forms page of the DHHS website.
TRAINING
No special training is planned or needed due to the procedural nature of the SR.
FORMS MANUAL POSTING INSTRUCTIONS
Remove and Destroy |
Insert
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|
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Reference sheet, Income Eligibility Levels Effective July 2014 |
DCYF/CDB Form 2532, Child Care Scholarship Income Eligibility Levels, DCYF/CDB SR 15-16/July, 2015 1 sheet, double-sided |
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 Manuals, 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 June 29, 2015. Additionally, this SR, and printed pages with posting instructions, will be distributed under separate cover to all internal hard copy holders of the Family Assistance and Forms Manuals.
CDB/KEB:kd
CERTIFICATE OF DESTRUCTION |
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I certify that all copies of reference sheet, Income Eligibility Levels, Effective July 2014, dated July 2014, DFA SR 14-27, have been destroyed. |
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District Office Administrative Supervisor: |
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District Office: |
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Return this certificate to the DFA Policy Unit, 129 Pleasant St, Brown Bldg, 3rd Floor, Concord, NH 03301, after the instructions in the SR have been carried out. |
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