Form Il444-3455 - Child Care Application - Illinois Department Of Human Services Page 15

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State of Illinois

Department of Human Services - Bureau of Child Care and Development

CHILD CARE APPLICATION

Parent/Guardian Name:

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE

CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OVERVIEW

1) Who is eligible for child care assistance from the state?

Income eligible working families;

TANF clients in education, training, or other work-related activities approved by their caseworkers;

Teen parents (under age 20) in elementary or high school, or a GED program;

Income eligible families who are in school or training and are not receiving TANF cash assistance.

* Occupational/vocational training, GED, ABE, ESL, and other below post-secondary education programs do not have a work requirement for the

first 24 months. High school does not have a work requirement.

2) Is there a waiting list for child care assistance?

No. Anyone who meets the eligibility requirements may receive a child care assistance.

3) How long can I continue to receive child care assistance?

There is no time limit. As long as you are income eligible and need child care to work or participate in an approved activity, you remain eligible.

Your Approval Letter will list the first and last months that you are eligible for assistance. Usually, you will be approved for 3 or 6 months at a

time. Before your approval period ends, you will have to renew your child care case in order to continue receiving assistance. You will do this by

filling out a “redetermination” form. This form will be automatically mailed to you in the month before your approval period ends. For example, if

you are approved through April, you should receive your redetermination form in March. If you don't return your redetermination form and all

required documents -OR- if you no longer meet the eligibility guidelines of the program, your case will be canceled.

4) If I receive child care assistance from the State will I still have to pay something?

The State requires all parents to pay a monthly "co-payment" directly to their provider. The amount of your monthly co-payment is determined by

IDHS and the amount may vary from parent to parent. Monthly co-payments are based on gross monthly income, family size, and number of

children in child care. The amount of your monthly co-payment will be listed on your Approval Letter. The State will deduct the parent co-payment

from the total charges up to the maximum child care rate. If the co-payment is more than the total charges, the parent pays the lesser amount to the

provider and no payment is made by the State.

5) How can I find a child care provider?

You may call a parent counselor at your local Child Care Resource & Referral Agency (CCR&R) at 1-877-202-4453 (toll-free) to get help finding

child care for your child. You must have a child care provider before you submit your application.

6) Will my information be verified?

Yes. Information submitted by the parent/guardian on the application and supporting documentation is verified through various agencies' databases

and internet websites. Databases used include, but are not limited to: TANF, Food Stamps, Medical, employment Security, Department of Labor,

Social Security Administration, Child Support Enforcement, and Chicago Public Schools. Information from these databases and websites will be

taken into consideration when determining eligibility.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

7) What does “income eligible” mean?

A family is considered income eligible when the combined gross monthly income of all family members is at or below the amounts listed below for

the corresponding family size. In two-parent families, both incomes must be combined to determine eligibility. Two-parent families include those

with 2 or more adults living in the home, such as the applicant and his or her spouse or parents of a common child in the home.

8) Must I be the child's parent to qualify for the program?

No. A child's legal guardian or other relatives caring for the child are also eligible and should fill out an application form. Foster parents can receive

child care assistance from the Department of Children and Family Services.

9) How old can the child be?

All children under age 13 are eligible. Children 13 or older are eligible if they are under court supervision or have written documentation from a

medical provider stating that they are physically or mentally incapable of caring for themselves.

10) Can I receive child care assistance for the time I travel to or from work or school/training?

Yes. You can receive child care assistance for reasonable time you spend traveling to and from your child care provider to your job or school

/training, as well as for the time you are working or attending school/training.

IL444-3455 (R-6-11)

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