WAC 170-290-0025  What rights do I have when I apply for or receive WCCC benefits?

When you apply for or receive WCCC benefits you have the right to:

1. Be treated politely and fairly without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, national origin, religion, age, gender, disability, or birthplace;

2. Have WCCC eligibility determined within thirty days from your application date per WAC 170-290-0100(2);

3. Be informed, in writing, of your legal rights and responsibilities related to WCCC benefits;

4. Only have your information shared with other agencies when required by federal or state regulations;

5. Get a written notice at least ten days before we make changes to lower or stop benefits except as stated in WAC 170-290-0120;

6. Ask for a fair hearing if you do not agree with us about a decision per WAC 170-290-0260.

7. Ask a supervisor or administrator to review a decision or action affecting your benefits without affecting the right to a fair hearing;

8. Have interpreter or translator service within a reasonable amount of time and at no cost to you;

9. Choose your provider as long as the provider meets the requirements in WAC 170-290-0125; and

10. Ask the fraud early detection (FRED) investigator from the division of fraud investigations (DFI) to come back at another time. You do not have to let an investigator into your home. You may ask the investigator to come back at another time. This request will not affect your eligibility for benefits. If you refuse to cooperate (provide the information requested) with the investigator, it could affect your benefits.

Note: This is a reprint of the official rule as published by the Office of the Code Reviser. If there are previous versions of this rule, they can be found using the Legislative Search page.

WAC 170-290-0030  What must I do when I apply for or receive WCCC benefits?

When you apply for or receive WCCC benefits you must:

1. Give us correct and current information so we can determine your eligibility and authorize child care payments correctly;

2. Choose a provider who meets requirements of WAC 170-290-0125;

3. Pay, or make a plan to have someone pay, your WCCC copayment directly to your child care provider;

4. Leave your children with your provider while you are in WCCC approved activities.  If you are not in an approved activity and you want to use the provider, you must make a plan to pay the provider yourself if the provider wants payment.

5. If you use an in home/relative provider, make sure care is being provided in the right home per WAC 170-290-0130.

6. Cooperate (provide the information requested) with the quality assurance review process to remain eligible for WCCC. You become ineligible for WCCC benefits upon a determination of noncooperation by quality assurance and remain ineligible until you meet quality assurance requirements or thirty days from the determination of noncooperation.

7. Cooperate with the fraud early detection (FRED) investigator. If you refuse to cooperate (provide the information requested) with the investigator, it could affect your benefits.

Note: This is a reprint of the official rule as published by the Office of the Code Reviser. If there are previous versions of this rule, they can be found using the Legislative Search page.

1. Notify WCCC staff, within five days, of any change in providers;

2. Notify your provider within ten days when we change your child care authorization;

3. Provide notice to WCCC staff within ten days of any change in:

   1. The number of child care hours you need (more or less hours);

   2. Your household income, including any TANF grant or child support increases or decreases;

   3. Your household size such as any family member moving in or out of your home;

   4. Employment, school or approved TANF activity (starting, stopping or changing);

   5. The address and telephone number of your in-home/relative provider;

   6. Your home address and telephone number; and

   7. Your legal obligation to pay child support.

4. Report to your child care authorizing worker, within twenty-four hours, any pending charges or conviction information you learn about your in-home/relative provider.

5. Report to the child care authorizing worker, within twenty-four hours, any pending charges or conviction information you learn about anyone sixteen years of age and older who lives with the provider when care occurs outside of the child's home.

Note: This is a reprint of the official rule as published by the Office of the Code Reviser. If there are previous versions of this rule, they can be found using the Legislative Search page.

If you fail to report any changes as required in WAC 170-290-0031 within the stated time frames, we may establish an overpayment per WAC 170-290-0271 or you might have to pay more than your normal share of child care costs, such as:

Note: This is a reprint of the official rule as published by the Office of the Code Reviser. If there are previous versions of this rule, they can be found using the Legislative Search page.

EXAMPLE 1:

Misty is currently approved for half-day child care. She calls in August to request full-day child care for her provider back to June 25th. Misty's schedule supports full-day care and she used an eligible provider. Authorize care per Misty's request effective June 25th.

EXAMPLE 2:

Misty is currently approved for half-day child care. She calls in August to request full-day child care for her provider back to June 25th. Misty's schedule does not support full-day care until her activity schedule changed July 10th. Misty used an eligible provider. Authorize care per Misty's request effective July 10th.