CCMPL 140 (Extension of Temporary Policy Regarding Publicly Funded Child Care (PFCC) Redeterminations and Case Actions)
Child Care Manual Procedure Letter No. 140
May 11, 2020
TO: All Child Care Manual Holders
FROM: Kimberly Hall, Director
SUBJECT: Extension of Temporary Policy Regarding Publicly Funded Child Care (PFCC) Redeterminations and Case Actions

Background

Rule 5101:2-16-02 of the Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) outlines the qualification requirements and annual redetermination process for caretakers currently receiving publicly funded child care (PFCC) benefits.

Rule 5101:2-16-08 of the OAC outlines the county agency procedures for processing redeterminations and for terminating a caretaker’s current eligibility if the caretaker no longer qualifies for PFCC.

County agencies must process redetermination applications before the end of a caretaker’s current eligibility period.  A redetermination application must be denied if a caretaker is ineligible for benefits for a new eligibility period. Additionally, county agencies must terminate current eligibility if a caretaker no longer qualifies for benefits.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, on March 30, 2020, eligibility extensions were implemented for caretakers receiving PFCC benefits that were set to end in March, April and May of 2020.  County agencies were instructed to stop processing redeterminations for March and April, and to refrain from taking negative actions against current cases until May 31, 2020.

New Policy

The temporary policy implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic will be extended through July 31, 2020.  County agencies shall not process PFCC redetermination packets for the months of June and July. Additionally, county agencies shall not take negative actions against current PFCC cases until July 31, 2020.

All caretakers with eligibility periods set to expire in June 2020 (current expiration date for June 2020 redeterminations is July 4, 2020) will have their eligibility period extended through December 2020 (new expiration date will be January 2, 2021).  No further redetermination actions will be required by the caretaker or the county agency until December 2020.

All caretakers with eligibility periods set to expire in July 2020 (current expiration date for July 2020 redeterminations is August 1, 2020) will have their eligibility periods extended through January 2021 (new expiration date will be February 6, 2021).  No further redetermination actions will be required by the caretaker or the county agency until January 2021.

Implementation

ODJFS will systematically extend all applicable eligibility periods and the child care information data system (CCIDS) will automatically send notices to caretakers and providers advising them of their new eligibility end dates.  No action by the county agency is necessary regarding changes to eligibility end dates or eligibility extension notices.

County Agency Requirements

County agency staff should not process redetermination packets for the months of June and July.  New redetermination packets will be mailed from the CCIDS/Eligibility Authorization (EA) system 45 days prior to the new, extended redetermination date as outlined above.

Any cases with authorizations that end in June or July should be extended to match the new eligibility period.

Questions

Please contact the Child Care Policy Helpdesk at 1-877-302-2347, option 4, or at childcarepolicy@jfs.ohio.gov if you have any questions about the new policy.