2104     Eligibility Factors                              Effective Date - January 1, 2009

2104.1            Eligibility Factors

Foster Care Medical - Sect. 1931 of the Social Security Act; 42 CFR 435.145 and .222; W.S. 42-3-103

A.    Refer to the Manual Sections indicated and require the following eligibility factors be met for the foster care subtypes, excluding Basic foster care:

1.    Eligible persons (503/2104.2);

2.    Age/Residence (602/604);

3.    SSN/Citizenship (606/607);

4.        Income (900).

B.    DO NOT require an asset test.

C.   DO NOT require the Caretaker to be a Relative of the child when applying for a foster care medical group, excluding IV-E.

D.   Consider a Foster child under age 19 eligible for 12 months from the effective Date of eligibility or 12 months from the last Periodic review.

IV-E - P.L. 104-193, as amended by P.L. 105-33; IV-E State Plan

E.    Refer to AFDC Sections in 5005.00 or AFDC-UP Sections in 5505.00 in effect 7/1/96 (Appendix 7 and 8) and require the following Public assistance eligibility factors be met using the Household circumstances from which the child was removed or with whom the child had been living in any of the six months prior to the date the petition was filed:

1.    Eligible persons (5005.01/5505.01);

2.    Residence/Age (5005.02/5005.03);

3.    School Attendance/SSN (5005.04/5005.05);

4.    Identity (5005.06);

5.    Citizenship (2103.1 and Combined Manual Section 607)

6.    Relationship (5005.08);

7.    Assistance Unit Composition (5005.09/5505.09);

8.    Living with a relative (5005.10);

9.    Assets (P.L. 106-169, eff. 12/14/99);

10.  Income (5005.12, 5006.11, 5106.00, Table XVIII - AFDC Budget Table);

11.  Child support Compliance (5005.13).

2104.2            Eligible Persons

                       Review the foster care categories in the order listed below, beginning with IV-E foster care being the highest level, and determine the child eligible for the first category for which s/he qualifies.

A.    Pending Foster Care (FM)

1.    Place the child in this medical code on MERE while pending foster care eligibility for information/declarations/verifications or during an investigation;

2.    DO NOT use this category for more than 60 days.

B.    IV-E Foster Care (FC):

1.   Refer to IV-E Policy Manual

C.   State Foster Care (RC):

1.        Require the countable income of the child to be less than $765 per month;

2.    Require the child to be under age 18 or age 18 and a full time Student expected to graduate before turning 19 years of age;

3.    DO NOT process eligibility if the child is an inmate in a public institution;

4.    DO NOT process eligibility if the child resides with her/his parents.

D.   Zero to Six Foster Care (FA):

1.    Explore eligibility under the Zero to Six Foster Care program when a child does not meet the eligibility under IV-E or State Foster Care; and

2.    Require the countable income of the child to be within the limits for the Kid Care A (Child Zero to Six) program;

3.    DO NOT process eligibility if the child is an inmate in a public institution.

E.    Six and Older Foster Care (FI):

1.    Explore eligibility under the Six and Older Foster Care program when a child does not meet the eligibility under IV-E or State Foster Care; and

2.    Require the countable income of the child to be within the limits for Kid Care A/B program;

3.    DO NOT process eligibility if the child is an inmate in a public institution.

F.    Institutional Foster Care (FT):

1.    Require the child to be an inmate in a public institution;

2.    Exempt the income and assets of the child for this category.

G.   Basic Foster Care (FR):
Process all children not eligible under one of the above categories as Basic Foster Care.

H.    Out-of-State Placement

1.    Continue eligibility for a child who is placed out-of-state but remains in DFS custody;

2.    Use the OE code on MERE when the receiving state does provide medical coverage; or

3.    Use the appropriate foster care medical subtype code if the receiving state does not provide medical assistance.

I.      Aging Out Foster Care (FE) – Effective 7/1/00

1.    Allow the foster child to remain in the current foster care category if s/he meets the eligibility criteria for that category; or

2.   Continue medical eligibility (FE) for a child who is 18, in DFS custody, but is being released from DFS custody:

a.    Change the medical subtype to FE on MERE;

b.    Continue coverage up to the age of 21 years as long as the child is a Wyoming Resident;

c.    Exempt the income and resources of the child;

d.    Conduct a review to verify the Wyoming residency once every 12 months.

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