Section 170-290-2420. Copay for early head start–child care partnership slots.

(1) If the consumer's family countable monthly income falls within the range below, then the copayment is:

(2) DSHS does not prorate the copayment when a consumer uses care for part of a month.

(3) The copayment is per family, not per provider or child. If the consumer has a child receiving working connections child care (WCCC) and another child receiving partnership-slot child care, the consumer chooses which provider will receive the copayment.

(4) The consumer pays the minimum copayment when he or she is a minor parent, and:

(a) Receives temporary assistance for needy families (TANF); or

(b) Is part of the parent's or relative's TANF assistance unit.

(5) The consumer pays the copayment directly to the child care provider or arranges for a third party to pay the copayment directly to the provider.

(6) In cases of overdue or past due copayments, the consumer, as a condition of maintaining eligibility, must do one or more of the following:

(a) Pay past or overdue copayments.

(b) Give DSHS a written agreement between the provider and consumer to verify that copayment arrangements include one or more of the following:

(i) An installment payment plan;

(ii) A collection agency payment plan;

(iii) In-kind services in lieu of paying the copayment; or

(iv) Forgiveness of the copayment from the provider; or

(c) Provide proof that the consumer has attempted to pay a copayment to a licensed provider who is no longer in business. "Proof" includes, but is not limited to, a return receipt that was signed for and not responded to, or a returned document that was not picked up.

(7) The provider collects copayments directly from the consumer or the consumer's third-party payor, and report to DSHS if the consumer has not paid a copayment within the previous sixty days.

(8) The FPG is updated every year on April 1st. The WCCC eligibility level is updated at the same time every year to remain current with the FPG.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.215.070 and chapter 43.215 RCW. WSR 15-24-070, § 170-290-2420, filed 11/25/15, effective 12/26/15.]

RCW 43.215.070 and chapter 43.215 RCW. WSR 15-24-070, § 170-290-2420, filed 11/25/15, effective 12/26/15.