Which children can get child care?

You can get child care authorized by DTA for

• a child under age 13, or
• a child up to age 16 who has a disability and cannot take care of herself.

The child must be

• receiving TAFDC or foster care benefits,
• under court supervision,
• receiving SSI but otherwise eligible for TAFDC, or
• in a family headed by a parent eligible for child care for teen parents. See Who is eligible for child care through DTA?. See 106 C.M.R. §§ 707.210(A)(2), (3), 707.230.

Advocacy Reminders

• DTA will not authorize child care for a child age 13 or older unless the child has a disability. Sometimes it is not safe to leave a teenager unsupervised after school or during school vacations. Contact your local legal services program, Appendix D: Massachusetts Legal Services Offices, if you need out of school time care for a teenager who is not disabled. You may have good cause for not meeting TAFDC work rules.
• You may need help to get child care for a child age 13 or older who has a disability. Contact your local legal services program, Appendix D: Massachusetts Legal Services Offices.