Hotline 4/13: Child care for former TAFDC clients

From the Hotline
If you have any questions on this column or other policy and procedural material, please have your Hotline designee call the Policy Hotline at 617-348-8478.

Q. 1. Can a former TAFDC client continue receiving ESP child care services?
A. 1. Yes. A former TAFDC client may continue receiving ESP child care services after a TAFDC case has closed, but only when the former client is meeting participation standards for an ESP education or training activity that began prior to the case closing. For more information on ESP education and training activities, refer to 106 CMR 207.140.

Q. 2. How long can a former TAFDC client continue receiving ESP child care services?
A. 2. The child care referral end date for former TAFDC clients receiving ESP child care services must not:

• exceed the completion date of the education or training activity, or
• last longer than six months beyond the TAFDC case closing date.

Use whichever date is earlier. For more information on ESP child care services for former TAFDC clients who are actively engaged in an education or training activity, refer to 106 CMR 207.210(A).

Q. 3. If a former TAFDC client is not completing an ESP education or training activity, can they still receive ESP child care services?
A. 3. No. However, a former TAFDC client whose case closed within 12 months and who is working may be given a Transitional Child Care referral.

Q. 4. My TAFDC client’s case is closing and she is no longer participating in an ESP education or training activity. What should I tell this TAFDC client about available child care services?
A. 4. Explain to her that as a former client, once she begins working she may qualify for a Transitional Child Care referral if the request is made within the 12-month period following the TAFDC closing date.

Important: Remember that even if there happen to be additional months remaining on a client’s ESP Child Care referral, the ESP Child Care referral must be terminated before a Transitional Child Care referral can be completed for a former client because former TAFDC clients who are working are not allowed to continue receiving ESP child care. To ensure that former TAFDC clients do not continue receiving ESP child care after a TAFDC case closure, remember to regularly check the Closed/Denied Within the Last Two Months and the Child Care AUs by Client Name views in BEACON for up-to date information on recently closed TAFDC cases and active child care cases.

Q. 5. How long can a former TAFDC client who is employed receive Transitional Child Care services?
A. 5. Transitional Child Care services for former TAFDC clients is limited to no more than 12 consecutive months from the TAFDC case closing date, while the former client is actively employed.

Q. 6. My client’s case is closing because her earnings are above TAFDC income standards. She had been working while receiving TAFDC payments and still has three months left on her ESP child care referral. At the same time, she has three months remaining on an education activity that she has been actively participating in. Can I wait until this ESP child care referral expires before completing a new Transitional Child Care referral?
A. 6. No. Even though this client is engaged in an educational activity, once the TAFDC case with earnings closes, the ESP child care services must also be terminated. If this former client intends to continue working, a Transitional Child Care referral must be completed immediately following the ESP child care termination so that the former client remains eligible to receive the full 12 months of Transitional Child Care services. For more information on Transitional Child Care services, refer to 106 CMR 207.210(A).

NOTE: Remember that the Transitional Child Care referral may also mean the start of out-ofpocket
dependent care expenses for certain SNAP clients. For more information on SNAP
dependent care expenses, refer to 106 CMR 364.400(D).