M E M O R A N D U M

TO: EES Program Administrators

FROM: Dr. Carla Whiteside-Hicks

DATE: February 13, 2025

SUBJECT: Implementation Instructions for Child Care Poverty Level Changes Effective April 1, 2025

Child Care

1. Poverty Level Changes - This year the monthly gross income amounts will be updated on the Child Care Family Income and Share Schedule to reflect changes in the federal poverty guidelines and the state median income levels effective April 1, 2025. The tables will be updated overnight on February 13, 2025, and the changes are effective April 1, 2025. KEES will look at all active Child Care programs, recalculate their Family Plans with a Type of ‘FP’ and Change Reason of ‘Other Change Reason’, and run EDBC for the come-up month. These actions mimic that of a caseworker–NOAs and Family Plans will go out based on EDBC results.
   
   With this adjustment to the poverty levels, the family share deductions are also being adjusted. Family share deductions were determined using the same formula that has been used since July of 2021. Since income limits are increasing, family share deductions are also increasing. Those new family share deductions will be applied to all new child care plans beginning April 1, 2025, or after. Per KEESM 7541, family share deductions for ongoing cases will not increase during the current eligibility period.

Timeline of Events:

• February 13, 2025: KEES will be updated with the table changes effective April 1, 2025. Note: The changes will not affect Family Share Deductions already attached to existing Family Plans. This will occur with the federal poverty guideline batch process. New plans written after this date will reflect the new amounts.
  
  
• February 15, 2025: Come-up month became available. Any cases processed for April benefits will have the table changes applied.
  
  
• The weekend of February 28, 2025: For all active family plans, a batch will update family plan income limits, recalculate the family plan, run EDBC, and send appropriate notices. KEES will prevent family share reductions from increasing before the end of an existing eligibility period.
  
  
• Overridden Family Plans will be skipped for each month that is overridden. EDBC will run and a NOA will be sent.
  
  
• March 17, 2025: Regular Child Care EDBC – Run any Child Care program that has not yet had April EDBC run.