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Can you get full-time care?

Alert

DTA made a number of changes and suspended a number of rules during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Guide notes in red when a rule was suspended during the pandemic.

Produced by Deborah Harris and Betsy Gwin, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
Reviewed December 2022

TAFDC recipients and applicants. If you qualify for a subsidy as a TAFDC recipient or applicant, DTA will approve you for full-time care. Unless you don’t want full-time care, don’t check the box for part-time care on DTA’s child care referral form.

Families not receiving or applying for TAFDC. You qualify for full-time child care if the CCR&RA or the contracted provider determines you need child care for 30 or more hours a week. You qualify for part-time child care (up to 6 hours a day) if the CCR&RA or contracted provider determines you need child care for fewer than 30 hours a week. Beginning in early 2023, you will be able to get full-time child care if the CCR&RA or contracted provider determines you need child care for 25 or more hours a week.

The CCR&RA or contracted provider should

  • add the time for transportation you provide between the child care provider and your work or other activity – provided you otherwise have a service need of at least 20 hours a week (this will change when the minimum time for full-time care is reduced to 25 hours a week),
  • determine you have a full-time service need if you have 12 credit hours of college courses,
  • count 2.5 hours of service need for each hour of class in an education or training program or each college credit if less than 12, in order to allow for homework and study time. Department of Early Education and Care, Financial Assistance Policy Guide, Financial Assistance Policy Guide.

Advocacy Reminder:

  • If the CCR&RA does not approve you for the hours you need, you can file a request for review with the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC). You can appeal if EEC denies your request for review.

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