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Working Connections Child Care

What is it?

Washington State subsidizes (pays part of) childcare for Temporary Assistance for Needy

Families (TANF) recipients and some low-income working parents. DSHS calls this benefit

Working Connections Child Care (WCCC).

You can apply for childcare at your local DSHS Community Services Office (CSO), by

calling 1-877-501-2233, or online at

https://www.washingtonconnection.org/home/. At the CSO, you have the right to

make a written application and get a written decision on it. The childcare eligibility

rules are at WAC 170-290.

You have the right to free interpretation or translation services to help you apply.

WAC 170-290-0025(7).

Am I eligible?

Families with incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines get childcare benefits

on a “first come, first served” basis until the program reaches an enrollment cap. DSHS keeps a

waiting list of potentially eligible families. DSHS sends families on the waiting list a letter when

space becomes available. A family has ten days to respond. WAC 170-290-0001.

These families get priority access to WCCC without having to be on the waitlist:

Families taking part in early head start-child care partnership slots

families who are homeless as defined by the McKinney-Vento Act

Families getting TANF benefits

Families trying to get out of WorkFirst sanction

Families of children with special needs

Teen parents living independently from their parent or guardian, in high school full-

time, who enroll their child in on-site child care at their high school

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To get WCCC, you must have at least one child and live in Washington. WAC 170-

290-0005.

If you get TANF but are in sanction, you can only get WCCC if you need childcare

to get or keep a job, take part in a WorkFirst activity, or remove the sanction.

WAC 170-290-0020(7)(a).

I do not get TANF. Will I qualify?

If you are working at least 20 hours a week and taking part in education or training, DSHS may

authorize childcare for your time spent in education or training. This includes transportation

time and up to ten hours weekly of study. WAC 170-290-0045.

Which children are eligible? WAC 170-290-0005(2).

Children who are citizens or legally living in the U.S.

Children under age thirteen, OR age thirteen to nineteen if one of these is true:

o A medical provider gives a statement that the child is physically, mentally, or

emotionally incapable of self-care. WAC 170-290-0220.

o The child is under court supervision.

Who can provide childcare? WAC 170-290-0125

A child may get care in an adult relative's home, or in the child's home by an adult

friend, neighbor, or relative. WAC 170-290-0125(1). The friend or in-home/relative

provider must:

o Be 18 or older.

o Be a U.S. citizen or legal resident.

o Register with the Department, meet minimum health and safety requirements,

and pass a criminal background check. WAC 170-290-0130.

Licensed childcare centers and family homes. WAC 170-290-0125(2).

Certified childcare providers such as tribal childcare facilities, childcare facilities on a

military installation, or on public school property and run by a school district. WAC 170-

290-0125(2)(b).

How does it work?

Parent/caretaker applies at local DSHS office, by phone, or online.

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DSHS mails you a letter within 30 days of applying saying if you qualify for benefits. WAC 170-

290-0035(2).

If you qualify and DSHS approves your application, the letter says what types of care they will

fund, and how to find a provider. WAC 170-290-0035(7)(b); WAC 170-290-0035(7)(c).

DSHS pays childcare subsidies based on how many hours you are working, looking for work, or

doing WorkFirst activities, including transportation time from the childcare provider to work or

activity and back. WAC 170-290-0040.

You must find a childcare provider who will accept the DSHS payment rate. It is lower than

some providers charge. WAC 170-290-0030(2); WAC 170-290-0125(2)(a)(ii).

Do I pay a share of daycare?

Yes. Your share is a co-payment. DSHS figures it two different ways:

If you do not pay child support, DSHS adds the total amount of all gross earned and

unearned income. WAC 170-290-0060; WAC 170-290-0065. This is your countable

income.

If you pay child support, your countable income is the sum of total income minus the

amount of support you pay based on a court or administrative order. WAC 170-290-

0070(2).

If your countable income is at or below 82% of Federal Poverty Level (Column 2 in the chart

below), your co-pay = $15.

If your countable income is over 82% up to 137.5% of Federal Poverty Level (Column 3 in

the chart below), your co-pay = $65.

If your countable income is over 137.5% - 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (Column 5 in

chart below), DSHS figures your co-pay using the formula below.

If you get TANF and find full-time work, DSHS will not include your TANF grant in

the co-payment calculation for three months after starting your new job. WAC

170-290-0070(g).

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INCOME STANDARDS FOR SUBSIDIZED CHILD CARE (WAC 170-290-0075)

Family

Size

Column 1

100%

Federal

Poverty Level

for Family Size

Column 2

If your “total”

income is

between these

amounts your

co-pay is $15

Column 3

If your “total”

income is

between these

amounts your

co-pay is $65

Column 4 If your income is

between these

amounts your co-pay

is $65 or greater,

depending on

formula below

Column 5

137.5% of

Federal

Poverty

Level

Total income is adjusted earned income plus unearned income.

1 $1,005 $0 and $824 $824 and $1,382 $1,281 and $2,010 $1,382

2 $1,353 $0 and $1,109 $1,109 and $1,860 $1,735 and $2,706 $1,860

3 $1,702 $0 and $1,396 $1,396 and $2,340 $ 2,189 and $3,404 $2,340

4 $2,050 $0 and $1,681 $1,681 and $2,819 $ 2,642 and $4,100 $2,819

5 $2,398 $0 and $1,966 $1,966 and $3,297 $3,096 and $4,796 $3,297

6 $2,747 $0 and $2,253 $2,253 and $3,777 $3,550 and $5,494 $3,777

7 $3,095 $0 and $2,253 $2,253 and $4,256 $4,004 and $6,190 $4,256

8 $3,443 $0 and $2,823 $2,823 and $4,734 $4,457 and $6,886 $4,734

Formula: Families with income between the two amounts in column 4 subtract 137.5% FPL

(column 5) from their countable income, multiply by .5, and add $65. Families whose income is

greater than the high figure in column 4 are not eligible for subsidized childcare. WAC 170-290-

0075(2).

All amounts are monthly.

EXAMPLE 1

A parent with three children earns gross income of $500/month and gets $392 in TANF.

Figure total income: $500 earned income

+$392 unearned income

$892 total income

Figure co-payment: Family size is 4; go to row of chart with that family size. Total income is $0

- $1,681, so co-payment is $15.

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EXAMPLE 2

A person with two children earns gross income of $1,800/month. Parent owes $300/month in

court-ordered child support.

$1,800 earned income

-$300 minus child support

$1,500 equals countable income

Figure co-payment: Family size is 3; go to row of chart with that family size.

Countable income is $1,396 - $2,340, so copayment is $65.

EXAMPLE 3

Two parent family with one child. Mother has gross earnings of $1,850/month. Father gets

$760 in Social Security Disability.

$2,610 total earned and unearned income

-$2,340 minus 137.5% FPL for household of 3

$270

x .5 multiply by .5

$135

+ $65 add $65

$200 is the amount of co-payment each month

Every family has a co-payment of $15 or higher depending on the family’s

income. WAC 170-290-0075.

Do I pay the co-payment directly to the childcare provider?

Yes. WAC 170-290-0030(3). DSHS also issues its portion of payment directly to the provider.

WAC 170-290-0035(9).

What happens if I do not pay my co-payment?

DSHS may end your childcare funding. WAC 170-290-0110(1)(a).

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Can my parents make the co-payment for me?

Any person or agency can pay your co-payment. They must pay your childcare provider directly.

WAC 170-290-0030(3).

Can my provider charge me more than the co-payment DSHS says I should

pay?

Childcare providers cannot require payment above the co-payment to keep your child in care.

Providers agree to accept the payment rate paid under WCCC for your child. WAC 170-290-

0034(10).

Childcare providers may not charge you processing payments and paperwork, or for materials,

supplies, or equipment needed to meet licensing requirements. WAC 170-290-0034(11).

How do I ask for an administrative hearing?

If you disagree with a DSHS decision, you can ask for an administrative hearing. You fill out a

Hearing Request at your local welfare office OR write the Office of Administrative Hearings, P.O.

Box 42489, Olympia, WA 98504 within 90 days of the date you get a decision. WAC 170-290-

0280. If it is an emergency, call the Office of Administrative Hearings at (360) 407-2768 or 1-

800-583-8271 to ask them to hold your hearing as soon as possible (an “expedited” hearing).

Representing Yourself at an Administrative Hearing has more info.

Can I keep getting assistance under this program while I am waiting for them

to schedule a hearing?

Yes. You can keep getting the same benefits if you ask for a hearing within ten days of the date

on the notice or before the date the notice takes effect, except if your childcare certification

has run out. This is “continued assistance” while you are waiting for your hearing. WAC 170-

290-0285.

What if I need legal help?

Apply online with CLEAR*Online - https://nwjustice.org/get-legal-help

or

Call CLEAR at 1-888-201-1014

CLEAR is Washington’s toll-free, centralized intake, advice and referral service for low-income

people seeking free legal assistance with civil legal problems.

Outside King County: Call 1-888-201-1014 weekdays 9:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.

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King County: Call 211 for info and referral to an appropriate legal services provider

weekdays 8:00 am – 6:00 pm. You may also call (206) 461-3200, or toll-free 1-877-211-

WASH (9274). You can also get info on legal service providers in King County through

211’s website, www.resourcehouse.com/win211/.

Persons 60 and Over: Seniors age 60 or over may call CLEAR*Sr at 1-888-387-7111,

regardless of income. Assets limits may apply. Seniors in King County may call 2-1-1.

Deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired callers can call CLEAR or 211 using the relay service of

your choice.

CLEAR and 211 will conference in free interpreters when needed.

Free legal education publications, videos, and self-help packets covering many legal issues are

available at www.washingtonlawhelp.org.

This publication provides general information concerning your rights and responsibilities. It is not intended as a substitute for specific legal advice.

This information is current as of May 2018.

© 2017 Northwest Justice Project — 1-888-201-1014.

(Permission for copying and distribution granted to the Alliance for Equal Justice and to individuals for non-commercial use only.)