FFA has put together a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to help answer questions that OS/ACL employees may have about the OS/ACL Child Care Subsidy Program (CCSP). The questions are grouped into the 3 categories below:
- Applying for a subsidy from the OS/ACL CCSP
- Determining eligibility for the OS/ACL CCSP
- Requirements after receiving an OS/ACL CCSP award
Applying for a Child Care Subsidy from the OS/ACL CCSP
Q: How do I apply for a child care subsidy from OS/ACL CCSP?
A: Complete an HHS-698 Form, Child Care Subsidy Program Application, for the OS/ACL CCSP. OS/ACL employees may download an application from FFA’s website by following this link, OS/ACL CCSP Application. This is a fillable PDF form.
In addition to submitting a completed application, you must also submit:
- A signed and dated copy of your most recent federal income tax return.
- A copy of your (and your spouse or partner, if applicable)2 most recent Statement of Earnings and Leave (SEL) (paycheck stubs for your spouse or partner, if applicable).
- A copy of the your most recent SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action.
- A copy of your W-2 Form(s), and your spouse’s W-2 Form(s), if applicable.
- Have your child care provider(s) complete an OPM Form 1644.Please note: Your provider does not need to fill out Section IV, Provider’s Financial Institution Information.
- A copy of your childcare provider’s current license or proof of compliance with State and/or local child care regulations.
- A copy of your child care provider’s rate sheet or fee schedule, that the child care provider gives to parents to show how much they charge for their child care services.
- A completed IRS Form W-9 from each of your child care providers.
- A copy of the birth certificate for each child that will be participating in the OS/ACL CCSP.
Q: When can a new employee apply for OS/ACL CCSP?
A: Immediately, upon starting to work for the OS/ACL, as long as the OS/ACL employee does meet all the eligibility criteria.
Q: Where should I send my application to be processed?
A:The application and all of the required supporting documents can be emailed or faxed to:Rebecca M. Donnelly, PSC Child Care Coordinator, at the following email address or fax number:
Email Address:Rebecca.donnelly@psc.hhs.gov
Telephone Number:(301) 492-4080
Fax Number:(240) 465-0217
Please note that your child care provider should submitall of their required forms and supporting documents directly to Ms. Rebecca Donnelly. Your child care provider does not have to give their required forms and other documents to you.
Determining Eligibility for the OS/ACL CCSP
Q: What factors will FFA consider in order to determine if an employee is eligible to receive an award?
A: FFA will follow the guidelines established by the OS/ACL to determine which employees who apply for an award, meet all of the eligibility requirements. The eligibility requirements are:
- You must be an active full-time OS/ACL employee.
- Have a child enrolled in, or will be enrolled in, a licensed or regulated childcare facility, or with a licensed or regulated home-based childcare provider (licensed and/or regulated by the State and/or local authorities where the child care service is provided).
- Your child must have the following relationship to you: a) a biological child who lives with you; b) an adopted child; c) a stepchild; d) a foster child; e) a child for whom a judicial determination of support has been obtained; or f) a child who you are the parent or legal guardian of, and to whose support you make regular and substantial contributions.
- Your child must be age 13 or under, or under age 18 if your child is disabled. A disabled child is defined as one who is unable to care for himself or herself based on a physical ormental incapacity as determined by a physician or licensed or certified psychologist.
- Have a total family income (TFI) that does not exceed $50,000per year. TFI is determined by looking at the adjusted gross income (AGI),for yourself and your spouse or partner, if applicable,as reported on the most recent federal income tax return(IRS Form1040,IRS Form 1040A, or IRS 1040EZ).
Q: Will I be notified that I am eligible to receive an award?
A: Yes, FFA will email an OS/ACL CCSP Award Letter and an OS/ACL CCSP Award Agreement to all OS/ACL employees determined to be eligible to receive an award. In addition, FFA will notify all employees who were determined not to be eligible to receive an award and provide the reason(s) for such determination.
Q: What will be the amount of the award?
A:The amount of your award will be based upon the employee’s Total Family Income (TFI). TFI will be determined by the adjusted gross income as indicated on the employee’s (and their spouse, if applicable) recently filed IRS Form 1040, 1040A, or 1040EZ. The award will be a percentage of all eligible child care costs, as shown on the table below:
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TOTAL FAMILY INCOME
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% OF TOTAL CHILD CARE COST PAID BY OS/ACL |
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$30,000 or Less
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40%
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$30,001 - $31,000
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39%
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$31,001 - $32,000
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38%
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$32,001 - $33,000
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37%
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$33,001 - $34,000
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36%
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$34,001 - $35,000
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35%
|
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$35,001 - $36,000
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34%
|
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$36,001 -$37,000
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33%
|
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$37,001 - $38,000
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32%
|
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$38,001 - $39,000
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31%
|
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$39,001 - $40,000
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30%
|
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$40,001 - $41,000
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29%
|
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$41,001 - $42,000
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28%
|
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$42,001- $43,000
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27%
|
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$43,001 - $44,000
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26%
|
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$44,001 - $45,000
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25%
|
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$45,001 - $46,000
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24%
|
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$46,001 - $47,000
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23%
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$47,001 - $48,000
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22%
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$48,001 - $49,900
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21%
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$49,901 - $50,000
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20%
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Over $50,000
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0%
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Requirements After Receiving an Award
Q: Once I receive an award letter, what should I do next?
A: You must fully complete, sign, and date the OS/ACL CCSP Award Agreement included with your OS/ACL Award Letter. You may then fax or email a copy of the signed OS/ACL CCSP Award Agreement to FFA. The fax number for FFA is: (770) 484-9313, and the email address is: pscccsp@1stfinancialassociates.com.
Also, you must also mail the original signed OS/ACL CCSP Award Agreement back to FFA. The mailing address for FFA is:
First Financial Associates
PSC CCSP
7079 Hayden Quarry RD
Lithonia, GA 30038
Q: How do I notify FFA of the amount incurred for child care charges for each month?
A: You must send FFA a OS/ACL CCSP Monthly Invoice which will show the total charges incurred for child care services rendered each month. The child care charges should be stated as weekly totals, and the weekly totals should be added to get the total child care expense for each month. Each week ends on a Friday. Most months will have 4 weeks. You can determine how many weeks are in a month by counting the number of Fridays in the month. If the Friday of a week has a date in the next month, then that entire week should not go on the current month’s invoice, it should go on the next month’s invoice. You and your childcare provider must sign the OS/ACL CCSP invoice for each month. If you have more than one (1) childcare provider, you must submit a separate OS/ACL CCSP Monthly Invoice form for each childcare provider.
Q. How can I get a copy of the OS/ACL CCSP Monthly Invoice and who will send it to my provider?
A. You may obtain it on our website by following this link:OS/ACL CCSP Monthly Invoice. The OS/ACL CCSP Monthly Invoice form is a PDF fillable form. You may complete it online using your keyboard.When you input the weekly child care charges for each week, the form will automatically calculate the monthly invoice total.Once you have completed the monthly invoice form, you and your child care provider may sign it with a digital signature if you have an Adobe digital signature. If you do not have an Adobe digital signature, then you can print the completed invoice, sign it and have your childcare provider sign it.
Q. If I change child care providers when do I notify FFA, and what documents should be submitted?
A. You must notify the PSC Child Care Coordinator (Rebecca Donnelly) immediately. We must have a completed Form OPM 1644 for the new childcare provider, and a copy of the provider’s current license or proof of compliance with state and/or local child care regulations. In addition, the new child care provider must submit the following other documents to the PSC Child Care Coordinator before any CCSP payments can be made to the new child care provider: IRS Form W-9, and a copy of the new child care provider’s rate sheet that shows how much they charge for child care services. FFA will not be able to process your monthly invoice without these items.
Q: Once I have been determined eligible to receive an award, do I have to submit a new application each year?
A: No. However, you will need to re-certify your continued eligibility and we will need to determine your current subsidy percent annually no later than April 30th of each year. In order for us to determine your continued eligibility to receive an OS/ACL CCSP award, and the correct subsidy percent, each year you must complete the recertification process and submit copies of the following documents to the PSC Child Care Coordinator (Rebecca Donnelly): HHS-698 Form, OPM Form 1644, your most recent signed and dated federal income tax return, two most recent pay statements (for you and your spouse, if applicable), a copy of your IRS Form W-2 (also your spouse’s W-2, if applicable), your most recent SF-50, and a current copy of your child care provider’s license (if the previous license has expired), a current copy of your child care provider’s rate sheet, and if you are adding a new child to the OS/ACL CCSP, we will need a copy of the birth certificate for each new child added.
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