904 NH CHILD CARE SCHOLARSHIP AUTHORIZED LEVEL OF SERVICE (FAM)

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The family’s authorized level of service is determined by the number of hours per week in which a parent is participating in an approved activity(ies) (see PART 915, NH CHILD CARE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM CRITERIA), plus commute time and the child’s need of care if less than the parent’s determined number of hours per week.. The authorized levels of service are:

New HEIGHTS will calculate the authorized level of service for each parent based on the approved activity(ies) plus commute time. The worker must verify the activity(ies). If the child's need for care is less than the calculated level of service, the worker must set the authorized level of service at the lower level.

Parents are allowed one hour of commute time per each unique day they are participating in an approved activity. Zero hours are assigned to parents that do not require commute time.

To determine commute time the worker must ask the parent for the unique number of days per week that they are actively participating in an approved activity(ies). Use the highest number of days needed for a regularly flexible/fluctuating schedule. Do not change the number of days when the parent works an occasional extra day or days. When parents do not commute, do not allow commute time.

For self-employment, the authorized level of service is determined by calculating the monthly net income divided by 4.33, divided by the federal minimum wage to determine the number of approved activity hours per week plus one hour of commute time per days worked per week. For the first two years of continuous self-employment, the parent may self-report the number of hours they are working in their self-employment activity. They may change self-employment activities during the two years, but once the two consecutive years have been reached, the manual calculation must be used to determine the approved service level. If a parent is in a self-employment activity and changes activity and then returns to self-employment, the two continuous years begin again.

Example: Parent is working 4 days per week with a monthly net income of $400. $400/4.33 = $92.38/$7.25 = 12.7 weekly hours plus one hour commute per day. Always round the weekly hours up. 13 + 4 =17 hours per week. Authorize half-time level of service. When a parent has $0 income or a monthly net loss of income, the number of hours is 0. Therefore a service level cannot be determined and there is no child care eligibility for self-employment.

At initial eligibility, when a parent’s only activity is job search, the parent may self-declare the number of hours and days the parent is actively looking for employment.

When a parent has multiple approved activities, the authorized level of service is based on the combination of all approved hours for the activities, including commute, study time, and sleep time.

The authorized service level calculated at initial eligibility determination will remain unchanged during any 12-month eligibility period unless the parent reports a change in employment related activities that increases the authorized service level. Parent(s) may request a decrease in service level at any time.

The authorized service level will remain the same prior to the start of the leave, break, or reduction in hours, unless the parent requests a decrease. The parent is  considered employed,in training, in an educational activity, or recipient of NHEP or FAP and participating in a mental health or substance misuse treatment program, during the current eligibility period as long as the parent(s) is:

· On a medical leave due to his or her own health or caring for the other parent of the common child living in the household or another child living in the household;

· Experiencing a seasonal break in employment according to regular industry work seasons;

· On a student holiday or break from a training or educational activity;

· Experiencing any other reduction in work, training or educational hours as long as the parent(s) is still working or attending a training or educational program.

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In a job search period, following the permanent loss of a job, end of a training or educational program, or recipient of NHEP or FAP and participating in a mental health or substance misuse treatment program, the authorized service level will remain the same as the authorized service level prior to the start of the job search.

New HEIGHTS will not allow a service level above half-time for school-age children. When a parent is participating full-time, and the child is school-age, New HEIGHTS will automatically set the child to a half-time level of service. If the school-age child requires part-time or full-time care, a manual override is required to correct the level of service. During school vacations, including summer, the system automatically switches the level of service to full-time for all school-age children when a parent is participating in an approved full time activity, and then returns it to the previous level at the end of the vacation period.

In two-parent families, the authorized level of service is based on the parent whose approved activity schedule requires the least amount of hours for child care services.

Example: In a 2-parent family, parent 1 works 32 hours per week over 4 days plus 4 hours commute time to equal a need for 36 hours of care (full-time). Parent 2 works 10 hours per week over 3 days plus 3 hours commute time to equal a need for 13 hours of care (part-time). New HEIGHTS will set an authorized level of service at part-time (1-15 hours per week) for this family.

When parents have joint custody, the service level is determined by the days that the eligible parent is caring for the child and meet  eligibility requirements.

A new or changed authorized level of service becomes effective the following Monday from the date the action was updated in New HEIGHTS.

References: He-C 6910.07(m)-(o), He-C 6910.12(c)(8), RSA 167:83,II(c) and (o), RSA 161:2,XII; RSA 167:83,II, 45 CFR 98.2