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I do accept subsidized payments but, I always verify eligibility before enrollment. I have had it happen 4 times now, that a parent schedules a tour, asks if I take subsidized, and when I respond that I do with verification the parent disappears. Are families hoping we won't check on eligibility? Has this happened to anyone else?
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I think sometimes the parents apply for eligibility and then, assuming that they are going to get it, they schedule to visit daycare places and then find out that just being even $1 over the limit and they won't get the subsidy. So they just decide not to do childcare. -
Interesting, I know in my area, if a parent applies online or over the phone they are told immediately if they are over income. I suppose a parent could fall within the guidelines and then end up being wait listed unexpectedly. We have fairly long waits for subsidies here.Comment
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It can also happen that the parents owe another provider, then when they apply for subsidy for the new daycare, they discover that they first must pay the old one (and they don't, so they don't come back). I've had parents who are seriously just too lazy to fill out the paperwork!Comment
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Maybe the application hasn't gone through all the way? I would contact their actual case manager.Comment
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In my area you can do that as well, for instance when I was going to be teaching again I was told that we could apply for the subsidy since we are military so we did. But then we found out that my husbands rank made it so that we didn't qualify, only E-5 and under would qualify because we made $50 dollars more than was allowed. It worked out in the end though, I run my own daycare now!
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Each state is different, but always be wary.
Sadly, many parents are well versed in cheating the system. Providers in my state have even had training seminars on what to watch for and what the cheaters try to do.
Parents applying for daycare funds used to have to fill out a form 980 (all done online now) It had a place where the daycare provider filled in rates and info. The parents then turned the form in.
What was happening is that parents who KNEW they weren't eligible for funds, would take a 980 form to gullible providers and say they needed to start daycare ASAP. The provider would start care and after a few weeks would wonder how much longer before she got funds from the state. By the time she called the state and found out that the parent wasn't going to get any funds....the parent had baled and got several weeks of free care. So we were warned to NEVER provide care before receiving pay. Some still do it though...usually new providers who fall for the sob stories and promises of later funds.
It's getting harder for parents to scam and cheat, but they are still trying to get through the loopholes.Comment
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