DCF 201.04DCF 201.04Payments and overpayments.
DCF 201.04(1)(1)General. The child care subsidy in a parent’s account may only be used to compensate a provider that is in compliance with s. DCF 201.038 (1) for child care authorized under s. DCF 201.039 for the child of a parent eligible under s. 49.155 (1m), Stats., and provided within the terms of the provider’s regulation and the parent’s authorization.
DCF 201.04(2)(2)Monthly subsidy payments for child care services.
DCF 201.04(2)(a)(a) Amount. The amount of a monthly subsidy payment shall be based on the number of hours of child care that an agency authorizes and any of the following that are applicable:
DCF 201.04(2)(a)1.1. For care by a provider licensed under s. 48.65, Stats., the lower of the provider’s child care price or the applicable maximum rate under s. DCF 201.06 (4), minus any copayment required under s. DCF 201.08.
DCF 201.04(2)(a)2.2. For care by a provider certified under s. 48.651, Stats., the applicable rate under s. DCF 201.06 (5), minus any copayment required under s. DCF 201.08.
DCF 201.04(2)(a)3.3. For care at a child care program established or contracted for by a school board under s. 120.13 (14), Stats., the applicable rate under s. DCF 201.06 (6), minus any copayment required under s. DCF 201.08.
DCF 201.04(2)(ag)(ag) Decreases in the monthly subsidy amount during the 12-month eligibility period. During a parent’s 12-month eligibility period, the amount of a monthly subsidy payment may not be decreased, unless any of the following conditions are met:
DCF 201.04(2)(ag)1.1. The parent voluntarily requests fewer hours of subsidized child care.
DCF 201.04(2)(ag)2.2. An assessment of the assistance group’s child care needs is required under s. DCF 201.039 (1) (c) and the child care administrative agency issues an authorization for fewer hours.
DCF 201.04(2)(ag)3.3. The parent agrees to fewer hours of subsidized child care under s. DCF 201.039 (2g) (b).
DCF 201.04(2)(ag)4.4. The parent’s copayment increases due to an increase in the income of the assistance group under s. DCF 201.08 (4) (b) or (c).
DCF 201.04(2)(ar)(ar) Reduction in provider quality rating. The reduction of a parent’s child care subsidy payment following a reduction in the quality rating of the parent’s provider from a 3-star rating under s. 49.155 (6) (e) 3. c., Stats., to a 2-star rating under s. 49.155 (6) (e) 3. b., Stats., may not become effective until the parent’s next eligibility redetermination.
DCF 201.04(2h)(2h)Payment of registration fees.
DCF 201.04(2h)(a)(a) The department shall pay the lower of a provider’s registration fee for a child or the department’s maximum registration fee amount.
DCF 201.04(2h)(b)(b) The department shall set a schedule for maximum registration fee amounts in Table DCF 201.04. Maximum fee amounts shall fully cover mandatory registration fees charged by at least 75 percent of providers who respond to the survey conducted under s. DCF 201.06 (2).
DCF 201.04(2h)(c)(c) The department may adjust Table DCF 201.04 to reflect any of the following factors:
DCF 201.04(2h)(c)1.1. Provider fee amounts in the most recent survey under s. DCF 201.06 (2).
DCF 201.04(2h)(c)2.2. Increased alignment with provider fee practices indicated in the survey under s. DCF 201.06 (2), including variation in fee amounts based on region of the state, children’s ages, or provider regulation type.
DCF 201.04(2h)(c)3.3. A change in the funding available for the child care subsidy program.
DCF 201.04(2h)(c)4.4. A change in costs due to a change in the consumer price index.
DCF 201.04(2h)(c)5.5. A change in economic factors affecting the cost of child care to the state, such as an increase in demand for the child care subsidy program.
DCF 201.04(2h)(c)6.6. Insufficient funding to meet the needs of all eligible families applying for or receiving a child care subsidy.
DCF 201.04(2h)(c)7.7. The purposes of the child care subsidy program.
DCF 201.04(2h)(d)(d) The department shall publish adjustments to the maximum registration fee schedule in the Wisconsin administrative register.
DCF 201.04(2h)(e)(e) The department shall pay no more than 2 registration fees per child in any 12-month period.
- See PDF for table PDF
DCF 201.04(2r)(2r)Payment procedures.
DCF 201.04(2r)(a)(a) Electronic. The department may issue all payments under subs. (2) and (2h) by electronic funds transfer.