How was child care determined before the change?
Before the changes, the cost of child care was determined by deducting child care expenses from the client’s grant income. This was called a child care disregard. New budgeting procedures require that the Department of Social Services no longer deduct child care expenses from an individual’s income. Rather, in Erie County, the Department of Social Services will pay child care directly to the client to cover child care costs up to the market rate. This will be done in a separate check apart from the client’s grant. Note: The market rate for child care may change. How will these changes affect the amount of my grant? The disregard and deduction will no longer be in an individual’s budget. Clients who are working and currently receiving the disregard will notice a change in the amount of their grant, or their cases may even be closed. Your case will only be closed if you needed the child care disregard in order to make you income eligible for assistance. However, if your case is closed, t
