N.M. Admin. Code § 8.15.2.10 - APPLICATION PROCESS

A. Clients apply for child care assistance benefits by presenting the following documents to establish eligibility:

(1) a completed signed application form;

(2) documentation of current countable earned and unearned income as listed below and defined in Paragraph (5) of Subsection C of 8.15.2.11 NMAC;

(3) documentation of the applicant's TANF eligibility or participation, if applicable, and can include applicant's social security number or assigned TANF identification number;

(4) school schedule or verification of educational activity, if applicable;

(5) demonstration of incapacity for parent or legal guardian, if applicable;

(6) verification of birth for all applicant's household children;

(7) documentation of qualifying immigration status, as defined by the United States department of health and human services, administration for children and families, office of child care, for all children requesting child care assistance;

(8) verification of custody of children, if applicable;

(9) verification of dependency of a child or adult household member, if applicable;

(10) documentation of New Mexico residency;

(11) identification for parent/guardian; and

(12) department approved provider.

B. The following are acceptable documents to use to verify eligibility. Other documents may be considered and taken to the supervisor to be reviewed for eligibility.

Verification Type	Acceptable documentation or information (examples)
Verification of Birth	-Birth certificate -Hospital or public health records -Certificate of Indian blood -Birth center records
Countable Earned Income	-Paystubs -Employer statement/verification of work form (for new employment) -Client statement, if earning wages from various odd jobs/day labor -Employer contract/work agreement -Payroll/gross wage history For self-employed individuals: -Income tax return with transcripts -Profit and loss (must be verified by a bookkeeper or accountant) -Common reporting standard (CRS) statements from New Mexico taxation and revenue department
Countable Unearned Income	-Benefit award letter (i.e. - social security, veteran administration (VA)) -Letter or document from agency making payment -Court records or other legal documents -Statement from tribal agency -Bank or other financial statement -Divorce or separation decree -Trust documents -Workers' compensation documents -Rental income information
Qualifying Activity	-Proof of TANF participation (example: work participation agreement (WPA)) -School schedule -Statement from educational institution -Work schedule -Paystubs -Employer statement -Client statement -Contract/work agreement -Proof of new business registration with state
Documentation of Incapacity	-Statement or letter from medical professional on letterhead/stationary -Statement/record/letter from a federal government agency that issues or provides disability benefits -Statement/records/letters from a state vocational rehabilitation agency counselor -Records/letters from a treatment facility/counselor -Certification from a private vocational rehabilitation or other counselor that issues or provides disability benefits
Custody	-Court order, or other legal records -Adoption records -Statement signed under penalty of perjury -Attorney records
Dependency	-Court order -Notarized statement -Divorce papers -Durable power attorney -Guardianship documentation -Federal tax documents verifying person is claimed as a dependent -Written statement with supervisor's approval
New Mexico Residency	-Lease/rental agreement -Utility bill -Mortgage receipt -Written statement from person you are residing with -Current New Mexico driver's license -Statement from landlord -Other records that provide a name and address
Identification for Parent/Guardian	-Current or expired government issued photo identification/passport -School photo identification -Government issued immigration document with photo -Employer identification with photo
Citizenship/Immigration Verification	-United States birth certificate -Military identification -Passport -Naturalization certificate -Permanent resident card -ASPEN/HSD verification (client must be listed as "eligible child") (example: refugees/other qualified aliens may receive services through HSD but also may have United States department of state form) -Numident (from social security office) -Refugee/asylee letter from United States secretary of state or from homeland security -Any document from the immigration and naturalization services (INS), department of homeland security (DHS), or other authoritative document showing a child's immigration status that qualifies the child for assistance

C. The department may approve a client to submit their initial application by fax, email, electronic submission, or mail. Clients shall have 14 calendar days after initial submission of an application to submit all other required forms. Upon approval from the child care regional manager, clients may be given longer than 14 calendar days, but no more than 30 calendar days, to submit required documentation.

D. Assistance is provided effective the first day of the month of application if all of the following apply:

(1) the client is utilizing child care services;

(2) the client is employed, attending school or a training program. In the case of a public health emergency, the department secretary may waive the requirement for employment, attending school or a training program; and

(3) the provider is eligible to be paid.

Notes

N.M. Admin. Code § 8.15.2.10

8.15.2.10 NMAC - Rp, 8.15.2.10 NMAC, 02/14/05; A, 08/31/06; A, 06/30/10; A, 11/30/12, Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXVII, Issue 18, September 30, 2016, eff. 10/1/2016, Amended by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXI, Issue 07, April 7, 2020, eff. 3/16/2020, Amended by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXI, Issue 15, August 11, 2020, eff. 8/11/2020, Amended by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXI, Issue 19, October 13, 2020, eff. 9/18/2020, Amended by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXII, Issue 04, February 23, 2021, eff. 3/1/2021, Amended by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXII, Issue 23, December 14, 2021, eff. 1/1/2022