Section 50.235  Income Eligibility Criteria

A family is considered "income eligible" when the combined gross monthly income of all family members is at or below the amounts listed in Section 50.230 for the corresponding family size.  In two parent families, both incomes must be combined to determine eligibility.  Two-parent families include those with 2 or more adults living in the home, such as the applicant and his or her spouse or parents of a common child in the home.  Eligibility is determined on the basis of monthly gross income.  To convert weekly income into monthly income, multiply weekly income by 4.333.  To convert bi-weekly income into monthly income, multiply bi-weekly income by 2.1666.  To convert twice monthly income into monthly income, multiply twice monthly income by 2.

Documentation must be secured for all income and maintained in the family eligibility file prior to approval for child care payments.

a)         Income Included (Non-Exempt)

1)         gross wages and salary;

2)         net income from farm self-employment;

3)         net income from non-farm self-employment;

4)         dividends, interest, net rental income and royalties;

5)         pensions and annuities;

6)         alimony;

7)         child support received by the family;

8)         ongoing monthly adoption assistance payments from DCFS;

9)         veteran's pensions;

10)         unemployment compensation;

11)         worker's compensation;

12)         public assistance and welfare payments;

13)         social security payments for all family members, including SSI and pensions;

14)         survivor's benefits, permanent disability payments, and railroad retirement benefits from the federal government.

b)         Exempt Income

1)         per capita payments to or funds held in trust for any individual in satisfaction of the Indian Claims Commission or the Court of Claims;

2)         payments made pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to the extent such payments are exempt from taxation under Section 21(a) of the Act (43 USC 1620(a));

3)         money received from sale of property, such as stocks, bonds, a house, or a car (unless the person was engaged in the business of selling such property, in which case the net proceeds would be counted as income from self-employment);

4)         money borrowed, including educational loans to a student who is included in the family unit as authorized in Section 50.210(c);

5)         withdrawals of bank deposits;

6)         tax refunds, or any Earned Income Tax Credit payments;

7)         gifts;

8)         lump sum inheritances or insurance payments;

9)         capital gains;

10)         the value of the coupon allotment or food stamp benefits under the Food Stamp Act of 1977, as amended;

11)         the value of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) donated foods;

12)         the value of supplemental food assistance under the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 and the special food service for children under the National School Lunch Act, as amended;

13)         any payment received under the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970;

14)         earnings of a child under age 19 (unless that child is the applicant);

15)         grants such as scholarships, obtained and used by a student who is included in the family unit as authorized in Section 50.210(c) under conditions that preclude their use for current living costs;

16)         any grant or loan to any undergraduate student for educational purposes made or insured under any program administered by the Commission of Education under the Higher Education Act of 1965;

17)         home produce utilized for household consumption;

18)         energy grants or allowances received through the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program authorized by the Home Energy Assistance Act of 1980;

19)         any DCFS foster care board payments or clothing allowance;

20)         child support paid out of the family's income.

(Source:  Amended at 28 Ill. Reg. 6895, effective April 23, 2004)