House committee hears bill to cut child care aid

On Thursday, January 12, the Washington House Health and Human Services Appropriations Committee held a hearing to examine Gov. Chris Gregoire’s proposal to cut 4,000 families off of the Working Connections Child Care program for a savings of $50 million.

The hearing focused on the Governor’s proposed reductions to TANF as well as the Working Connections Child Care program.

The state’s Working Connections Child Care program provides a small subsidy to working families to help pay for child care. Currently, there are almost 30,000 families enrolled in the program.

If the bill passes, Beth Hansen, Executive Director at St. James Family Center said, “we would lose some families who qualified.”

Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) helps families with low incomes pay for child care while they work or meet WorkFirst participation requirements for TANF, Temporary Aid to Needy Families.

Administered by DSHS, WCCC helps families who qualify for child care subsidy benefits. When a family chooses an eligible provider, the state pays a portion of the cost of child care. The parent is also responsible to pay a copayment to the provider each month, which is shown on the copayment chart.

For a family of three the federal poverty level (FPL) is $1544 per month. A family of three earning up to 82 percent of the federal would pay $16 per month as a copay. A family of three earning between 82 and 137.5 percent of the FPL would pay $86. Those over 137.5 and 175 percent of FPL, subtract 137.5 FPL from countable income, then multiply by .50 and add $65.

Hansen said the Family Center had fewer families on the program than in the past, partly because of the need to complete review paperwork in a timely fashion.

“It is difficult for parents to keep up with it before it expires,” she said.

The families and provider must document hours that are closely aligned to the parent’s work schedule, although allowance can be made for travel.

“Families already on the program will likely remain unless they have a change in circumstances. But it will be more difficult for people entering the system,” Hansen said.

“We believe there will be a longer waiting list,” she said.

Jackie Jones of Health and Human Services said her office assists with cash or food or medical applications but refers requests for child care to St. James Family Center.

Hansen urges the community to visit the Washington State Legislature website at http://www.leg.wa.gov for information on how to contact legislators or call SJFC at 795-8612.