CCMPL 152 (2022 Form Revisions for Publicly Funded Child Care Ohio Benefits Implementation)
Child Care Manual Procedure Letter No. 152
March 28, 2022
TO: All Child Care Manual Holders
FROM: Matt Damschroder, Director
SUBJECT: 2022 Form Revisions for Publicly Funded Child Care Ohio Benefits Implementation
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Background:

The Ohio Benefits (OB) statewide automated eligibility system replaced the Client Registry Information System-Enhanced (CRISE) and was implemented statewide in the Fall of 2018. Currently, eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF or Ohio Works First or "OWF") and Medicaid programs are determined in Ohio Benefits.

Eligibility for the Publicly Funded Child Care (PFCC) program will begin in the Ohio Benefits system on March 28, 2022, using a phased-in approach that begins with pilot counties before going statewide. As a result, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services revised the JFS 07200 "SNAP, OWF and Medicaid Application" and the JFS 07204 "Application to Reapply for SNAP and OWF" to include PFCC. This allows individuals to apply for benefits on one form and reduce the number of documents received by county agencies.  Additionally, PFCC verifications were added to the JFS 07105 "Application/Reapplication Verification Request Checklist".

Amended Forms:

JFS 01121 "Early Childhood Education Eligibility Screening Tool" has been revised to add "Special Needs" care definition and question.

JFS 01122 "Publicly Funded Child Care Supplemental Application" has been revised to remove "emergency contact" and replace with "authorized representative" and to update the civil rights language.

JFS 07105 "Application/Reapplication Verification Request Checklist" has been revised to add child care verifications to the checklist.

JFS 07200 "Application for Cash, Food, Medical Assistance, or Child Care" has been revised to add child care instructions and questions.

JFS 07204 "Request to Reapply for Cash Assistance, SNAP and/or Child Care" has been revised and steps were added to child care instructions and questions.

Implementation:

Counties participating in Ohio Benefits will use the Ohio Benefits statewide automated eligibility system to process PFCC intake applications.

The JFS 07200 "Application for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Cash assistance, Medical assistance or Child Care assistance" will be used to apply for child care when a county is utilizing the Ohio Benefits system to determine eligibility. The following scenarios are to be used to assist counties with intake:

What if a child care caretaker residing in a non-pilot county submits a JFS 07200 to apply for child care? Both the JFS 07200 (with child care questions) and the JFS 01138 may be accepted as of 3/28/22 for an initial PFCC application.
What if a child care caretaker residing in a pilot county submits a JFS 01138 "Application for Child Care Benefits" or a JFS 01121"Early Childhood Education Eligibility Screening Tool" with a JFS 01122 "Publicly Funded Child Care Supplemental Application" to apply for child care?

Effective 3/28/22, PFCC applicants in pilot counties must use the updated JFS 07200 to apply for benefits in counties processing eligibility in OB. However, a submission date of a valid JFS 01138 may be used as a "date holder" for the JFS 07200 to be submitted.

The JFS 01138 may serve in this capacity no more than thirty days from the date the counties receive the JFS 01138. If the JFS 07200 is not received by the thirtieth day of the JFS 01138 receipt date, JFS 01138 will be considered an incomplete application and may be denied. The JFS 01138 will no longer be accepted by all counties once all intake cases are converted in Ohio Benefits.

The JFS 01121 and 01122 have been revised and  are to follow the current processing guidelines.

The JFS 07204 "Request to Reapply for Cash Assistance, SNAP and/or Child Care" is to be used to reapply for child care when a county is utilizing the Ohio Benefits system to recertify  eligibility. This will be generated via Ohio Benefits to process recertifications. The revised version will be available in Forms Central and utilized in the system beginning in June 2022. 

The JFS 01124 "Re-Determination Application for Child Care Benefits" is to be used to redetermine eligibility using the Child Care Information Data System (CCIDS). 

The JFS 07105 "Application/Reapplication Verification Request Checklist" will be generated via Ohio Benefits when a county is utilizing Ohio Benefits to determine eligibility. Child care items have been added to the checklist.

Questions:

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