Child Care

Payment for child care is an allowable vocational rehabilitation (VR) expenditure when all four of the following conditions are met:
• Other core VR services are being provided. (Child care is a support service and therefore may not be provided as a stand-alone service. Support services may be provided only in conjunction with core VR services.)
• Child care is necessary to allow the client to participate in the VR process or to participate in IPE services.
• Child care services may be provided only for the legal dependents of the client.
• Child care services are subject to economic need.

Authorization and payment procedures

The “Child Care Information and Referral Form” (Section 8 / Part 52) will be used to analyze whether child care payments will be made using the standard authorization process or the Vision Card/Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) system.

The standard service and payment authorization process will be used when any (one or more) of the following circumstances are met:
• The child care services will be provided for 12 consecutive weeks or less.
• The use of the Vision Card/EBT system would cause an undue hardship to the client because of specific, documented disability issues which impact the ability to use the EBT system.
• The client chooses a child care provider not enrolled as an EBT (efunds) provider with SRS.

When the standard service and payment authorization process is used, payments will be made directly to the child care provider.

The Vision Card/EBT system will be used in all other circumstances. Under this system, funding for child care is transferred to the client’s Vision Card. The client then uses the Vision Card to pay the child care provider directly. The Vision Card/EBT system allows the funds to be restricted to assure use for child care expenses only.

When using the Vision Card/EBT system, the client and the counselor will complete the “Child Care Information and Referral Form” (Section 8/Part 52) and forward it to Economic and Employment Support (EES) staff for entry into the KsCares system. At the Regional Office level, EES will designate staff to accept these referrals.

When the Vision Card/EBT system is used, the counselor will identify the specific amount of VR funds authorized for child care per month. Funds can only be authorized within the current State Fiscal Year. When child care services continue into a subsequent fiscal year, a new authorization will be necessary.

After the Child Care Plan has been entered on KsCares, the EES staff will send a print copy to the RS Counselor. RS will inform EES when a VR case involving the Vision Card/EBT system for child care is closed.