Reform proposals related to child care subsidy work requirements
This page includes a selection of reform proposals related to child care subsidy work requirements. These reform proposals come from state and federal legislative proposals, model legislative proposals, policy white papers, and scholarly articles.
For more information about the main areas of inquiry and disagreement related to work requirements for public assistance programs, click here.
Click on a link in the list below to learn more about each type of reform proposal:
- Expand eligible work activities. This reform proposal would broaden the types of activities that satisfy CCDF work requirements in order to expand program access.
- Increase work requirements for eligibility. This reform proposal would increase the number of hours individuals are required to work per week in order to receive child care subsidy benefits.
- See also: Child care subsidy work requirements
Child care subsidies are funded by the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), a federal program administered by the states that provides funds to assist low-income families in obtaining child care. Federal law requires that parents receiving CCDF child care subsidies work or complete work-related activities. States are responsible for defining the activities that qualify a family for assistance through CCDF, including work requirements, education participation, and community service. State agencies have flexibility in determining eligibility for CCDF subsidies, according to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regulations. Employment is an approved activity for CCDF funding in every state and some states also approve subsidies for parents participating in education and training activities.[1][2][3]
The following reform proposals focus on work requirements for child care subsidies.
Expand eligible work activities
This reform proposal would broaden the types of activities that satisfy CCDF work requirements in order to expand program access.
Expand eligible work activities at the federal level
- The Child Care for Working Families Act of 2023 was introduced by Senator Patty Murray (D-Wa.) and Representative Bobby Scott (D-Va.) on April 27, 2023. The bill would establish federal-level CCDF work requirements, referred to as eligible activities, including "full-time or part-time employment; self-employment; job search activities; job training; classes, a course of study at an institution of higher education, classes towards an equivalent of a high school diploma recognized by State law, or English as a second language classes; health treatment (including mental health and substance use treatment) for a condition that prevents the parent from participating in other eligible activities; activities to prevent child abuse and neglect, or family violence prevention or intervention activities; employment and training activities under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA); and taking leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (or equivalent provisions for Federal employees), a State or local paid or unpaid leave law, or a program of employer-provided leave.”[4][5]
Expand eligible work activities at the state level
- House Bill 2124 modified child care subsidy work requirements in the state of Washington by requiring the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) to recognize participation in the Birth to Three Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) or the Early Head Start program as approved activities to meet work requirements. The inclusion of these programs, which both require parent involvement, increased eligibility for benefits from Working Connections Child Care (WCCC), which is Washington’s child care subsidy program. This bill was passed in the Washington Senate on February 28, 2024 with 39 votes in favor and 8 against. The bill then passed in the Washington House of Representatives on March 5, 2024 with 86 votes in favor and seven against. The bill was signed by Governor Jay Inslee on March 26. This bill went into effect November 1, 2024.[6]
Increase work requirements for eligibility
This reform proposal would increase the number of hours individuals are required to work per week in order to receive child care subsidy benefits.
- Iowa House File 707 (2023) raised the work requirements from 28 to 32 hours per week for those seeking child care subsidy benefits. The law also raised the eligibility threshold to qualify for assistance from 145% of the federal poverty level to 160%, meaning that there is an upper limit of $39,776 for a family of three, or $48,000 for a family of four. A family with earnings lower than or equivalent to these levels qualifies for assistance in Iowa if the guardian of the children is working at least an average of 32 hours a week. The law has different provisions for families with children who require special needs care. If the child is a special needs child, the family is eligible for assistance if they are earning up to 200% of the federal poverty level and the guardian of the child is working at least an average of 28 hours a week. This bill passed the Senate with 48 votes in favor and none against and passed the House with 92 votes in favor and one against before being signed into law by Governor Kim Reynolds (R) on May 18, 2023.[7]
See also
- Arguments about work requirements for public assistance programs
- Child care subsidy work requirements
- Child care subsidy work requirements during the Biden administration
- Child care subsidy work requirements during the Trump administration
- Child care subsidy work requirements in the states
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Urban Institute, Child care subsidies, accessed May 31, 2023
- ↑ HHS Child care, parental activities and reason for care, accessed May 31, 2023
- ↑ Child care aware, child care and development block grant, accessed May 31, 2023
- ↑ "Ed & Workforce Democrats," The Child Care for Working Families Act,” accessed January 9, 2024
- ↑ “Congress.gov,” “S.1354 - Child Care for Working Families Act,” accessed January 9, 2024
- ↑ Washington Legislature, "Certification of Enrollment: Second Substitute House Bill 2124," accessed November 3, 2024
- ↑ Iowa Legislature, "HF 707," accessed October 4, 2024
