93. Who is eligible for child care through DTA?

There are special child care rules for TAFDC recipients, former TAFDC recipients, and parents under 20. Unlike other low-income families, these families do not have to go on a wait list for a subsidy. Eligible current TAFDC recipients, former TAFDC recipients whose TAFDC case closed within the last 12 months, and parents under 20 referred for child care by DTA do not have to a pay a fee. Recipients whose TAFDC closed within 12-24 months are eligible to get child care immediately without going on the waitlist and pay a sliding scale fee.

Child care for TAFDC recipients

Parents or other caregivers receiving TAFDC for themselves and parents receiving SSI who receive TAFDC for children. You are eligible for free child care as long as you have a child in your care who is under age 13 (or under age 16 if the child has special needs), and

  • you are doing paid work (including self-employment) or participating in an approved education, training, or work-related activity (including job search or community service), 
  • you are subject to the work requirement and need child care to develop a plan and choose an education, training or work-related activity (can get 12 weeks of child care while you look),
  • you are scheduled to start an activity. See 106 C.M.R& § 707.210(A) DTA Transitions, June 2012, p. 4; Sept. 2011, p. 5; DTA Transitions, Nov. 2007, p. 4.  Appendix E (DTA Online Guide), or
  • You live in a homeless shelter.

Non-parent caregivers (such as grandparents or other relatives) applying for or receiving TAFDC only for children. You are eligible for free child care as long as

  • you have a child in your care child care who is under age 13 (or under age 16 if the child has a disability), and 
  • you are doing paid work (including self-employment). Appendix E (DTA Online Guide Links).

For all of these categories, DTA will authorize child care for 12 months for any approved activity. The authorization is valid for 12 months even if your activity stops or your TAFDC closes. Appendix E (DTA Online Guide). If you are still on TAFDC at the end of 12 months, you can renew the child care authorization if you are in the same or another approved activity.

If you are not getting TAFDC for yourself because of your immigration status, but you are receiving TAFDC for a child and you are documented, you are eligible for child care on the same basis as TAFDC recipients. DTA Transitions, Feb. 2009, pp. 7-8, June 2005, p. 4; DTA Field Operations Memo 2002-18A (Oct. 10, 2002). If you are an undocumented noncitizen and you are subject to the TAFDC work requirement, DTA will authorize child care so you can do community service only but not for other activities. 

DTA may say you cannot get child care if you are undocumented and need child care for another activity such as an English language program. DTA may also say you cannot get child care if you have been sanctioned for not cooperating with child support. Email info@masslegalservices.org for advice.

Child Care for parents under 24

You are eligible for a DTA authorization for child care if you are a parent under 20 (currently under age 20, but may be raised to under age 24) who is in school or another DTA-approved education, training, or work related activity, and

  • receiving TAFDC, or
  • receiving SSI or foster care for yourself and TAFDC for your child, 106 C.M.R. § 707.210(A)(1)(c), or
  • receiving SSI, under the age of 18, living with your child or your parent, and household income is below 200% of the poverty level, see Question 73, or you cannot get verification of your parent’s income. 106 C.M.R. § 707.230.

You are also eligible for child care through the Department of Early Education and Care whether or not you are receiving TAFDC if you are a parent under 24, you are have a child in your care, you meet certain income eligibility requirements and you are

  • participating in a full time high school or HiSET program and participating in social service support and child care activities, or
  • participating in the Young Parents Program, which provides parenting classes and other services in addition to HiSET classes.

For this category of care, you can get a referral from DTA (whether or not you receive TAFDC) or you can apply directly at the Child Care Resource and Referral Agency (CCR&RA), See Question 95. If you get a referral from DTA, you will get immediate access to care without going on a wait list and you will not have to pay a fee.

The issue of “Young Parents” can be confusing because there are special TAFDC rules for parents under the age of 20, DTA administers a “Young Parent Program” with DCF for young parents who need shelter through DCF as opposed to the Emergency Assistance Shelter program. The category of child care for young parents is yet another program which is administered either by DTA or the CCRRA.

Once you qualify for child care as a parent under 23, you may be eligible for this program until you reach your 24th birthday. See 606 C.M.R. § 10.07; Department of Early Education and Care, Financial Assistance Policy Guide, https://www.mass.gov/info-details/hub-for-child-care-financial-assistance-programs-changes.

Child care for former TAFDC recipients

After your TAFDC case closes, your voucher will continue until it expires. If you don’t have a voucher or your voucher expires, there are several ways you can get child care after your TAFDC case closes without having to go on a wait list.

Transitional Child Care

You are eligible for Transitional Child Care during the first 24 months after your TAFDC case closes if you are working or participating in an education or training activity. You can ask for child care at any time during the 24 months. 106 C.M.R. § 707.210(A)(1)(f); Department of Early Education and Care, Interim Income Eligible Child Care Financial Assistance Program Policies – October 1, 2023, https://www.mass.gov/doc/interim-income-eligible-childcare-financial-assistance-program-policies-october-1-2023/download.

To get Transitional Child Care after your child care voucher expires or if you never had DTA child care, you must

Continuity of care

You should be able to keep getting subsidized child care when DTA or Transitional child care ends, as long as you have a child care need recognized by the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) authorizationwhen it’s time to renew your child care and your income is below the maximum for subsidized child care ($9,382 a month for a family of three beginning Oct. 1, 2024).

Child care needs recognized by EEC include

  • you need child care because you have a documented health issue,
  • you are working,
  • you are looking for work,
  • you are participating in education or training,
  • you are homeless, including staying in a homeless or domestic violence shelter, or doubled up because you don't have enough money for rent,
  • you are experiencing domestic violence or dealing with the consequences of past violence,
  • you are on parenting leave from your job (up to 3 months) plus any time left on your 12-month authorization, or
  • your child has a documented special need or disability and a health professional verifies that the child would benefit from child care (parent must separately establish at least a part-time service need on some other basis).

Department of Early Education and Care, Interim Income Eligible Child Care Financial Assistance Program Policies – October 1, 2023, https://www.mass.gov/doc/interim-income-eligible-child-carefinancial-assistance-program-policies-october-1-2023/download

In addition, if you cannot yet show a need EEC recognizes, EEC will continue child care for 12 weeks to give you a chance to establish and document a recognized service need.

Advocacy Reminders

  • If you are not eligible for Transitional or other DTA-approved child care, you can apply for child care at the Child Care Resource and Referral Agency, at an agency that has contracts to provide child care, or by calling Mass 211 (dial 2-1-1 from your landline or 877-211-6277 from your cell phone). You will have to go on a wait list. If you had subsidized child care within the previous three months that was suspended temporarily (for example, because of travel out-of-state), you may have a priority for continuing to receive child care through EEC.
  • Former TAFDC recipients are eligible for Transitional child care even if they received TAFDC for a very short time. If you lose your job and expect to get unemployment insurance benefits, you may want to apply for TAFDC before your unemployment benefits begin. Although you may not be eligible for TAFDC once unemployment benefits start, you will be eligible for child care as a former TAFDC recipient once you start working again.
  • DTA or EEC may say you have to be working or in education or training a minimum number of hours to qualify for Transitional Child Care. Contact your local legal services program, Appendix D, if this is problem for you.
  • If you are homeless, you do not need to be working or in another work activity. You can also call 211 (or 877-211- 6277) to get on the child care waitlist; be sure to say you are homeless. Then call the Child Care Resource and Referral Agency and explain you are homeless. You will need proof you are homeless such as a letter from the shelter or a social service provider or your own statement. You will get a higher priority on the wait list than if you were not homeless. Contact your local legal services program, Appendix D, if you need help.
  • Families with an active case with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) or during a transitional period of 24 months the after case closes, may be able to get a child care referral from DCF for subsidized child care. There is no parent fee while the DCF case is active or for 12 months after the DCF case closes. Contact DCF for a referral.
  • SNAP recipients who are not receiving TAFDC are eligible for subsidized child care if they are enrolled in a SNAP “Path to Work” activity. Appendix E (DTA Online Guide)
92. Will DTA approve college attendance?
94. Which children can get child care?