Code of Maine Rules › 10 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES › 144 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - GENERAL › Chapter 610 - MAINE AT-RISK CHILD CARE PROGRAM RULES › Section 144-610-6 - THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
Funds from this program are limited. Every effort will be
				  made to provide payments for all eligible persons who apply. Anticipate costs
				  will be monitored, however, and, once funds are encumbered, future eligible
				  applicants will be place on waiting lists. As funds become available,
				  individuals will be served from the waiting list based on date of application.
				  Persons already being served in the program will continue to receive services
				  until they become ineligible as long as funds for the program are available. In
				  situations in which funding is limited, individuals will be offered time
				  limited vouchers or slots.
Applications for the MARCC Program are available at Voucher
				  Management Agencies. Al applications will be processed for eligibility by a
				  MARCC worker located in Augusta. This will be done electronically. It will not
				  be necessary for MARCC program applicants or participants to appear at a DHS
				  office for application or review.
Eligibility will be determined for up to a six-month period.
				  At the end of the six-month period, continued eligibility will be reviewed.
				  Eligibility will be determined from the date that all eligibility factors are
				  met, and there is a provider agreement in force.
Factors that would shorten the six month eligibility period
				  include anticipated changes in income, the age of the child covered under the
				  MARCC Program, working hours, or an inability to project income with any
				  confidence (due to the length of time employed or other factors), or changes in
				  family composition.
If a formerly employed family member becomes employed, the
				  family may continue to participate in the MARCC Program for a maximum of eight
				  weeks at twenty hours per week as long as the family member is actively looking
				  for work. A family member not already on the MARCC program, who is hired and
				  accepts employment, may receive MARCC benefits for two weeks prior to the date
				  of hire. Only part time vouchers or slots will be issued to persons either
				  between jobs or accepting jobs.
All family income as well as questionable information must be
				  verified. (An example of "questionable information" would be an instance where
				  two parties (or families) are applying for the same child.) It is the
				  responsibility of the applicant or individual to verify all requested
				  information. It is the responsibility of the MARCC to assist the family to
				  obtain any necessary information.
Any change of income by $10.00 (ten dollars) per week or more
				  must be reported to the MARCC within ten days of its occurrence. For reporting
				  purposes, the date of occurrence is the date the changed income is received.
				  The MARCC must redetermine eligibility.
In cases where the intended action is to discontinue or
				  reduce assistance, timely and adequate notice shall be given to the
				  family.
"Timely" means that the notice shall be mailed 12 days before
				  the intended change would be effective.
"Adequate" means a written notice which includes a statement
				  of:
the action the Department intends to take,
									the reason for the intended action,
									 the regulations supporting such action,
									 an explanation of the rights to request a Fair
					 Hearing, and
									 a statement explaining that if a hearing is requested
					 within the 10 day notice period, the intended action will not become effective
					 until after a hearing decision is rendered but that if the agency decision is
					 upheld, the individual is liable for repayment of overpayment.
The only instances when the timely notice guarantee is
				  dispensed with are as follows:
Factual information is received confirming the death
					 of the applicant, child or child care provider.
									A written statement signed by the individual that
					 assistance is no longer needed is received and filed in the case
					 record.
									The child is not longer in the home.
									 The individual's whereabouts are unknown and mail from
					 the Department or Resource Development Centers mail directed to the individual
					 has been returned indicating "no known forwarding address".