Effective Date: 12/01/05
Revised: 01/01/13, 04/01/2017, 02/26/24, 08/01/24
Reference: 89 Ill. Adm. Code, Chapter IV, §50.105, §50.210,
Policy Statement:
Family composition is determined by identifying only those members who fit into the definition of family stated below.
The term "Parents" or "Parents or other Relatives" refers to applicants for or recipients of child care assistance who reside in the same household as the child. Parents or other relatives include: the child's biological or adoptive parent; a child's biological or adoptive parent who is the primary residential parent (custodian) of the child; a stepparent; a legal guardian or, a caretaker relative within the fifth degree of kinship. No supporting documentation is needed. However, if the applicant is non-relative or does not fall within the fifth degree of kinship, proper legal guardianship (court-approved) supporting documentation is required. The degrees of kinship are listed below. Similarly, if the applicant listed a family member within the fifth degree of kinship in their family size, no supporting documentation for financial dependency is needed. That additional family member, however, cannot be active on someone else's child care case.
The term also applies in an order of joint custody entered pursuant to Section 602.1 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act [750 ILCS 5]; or in an original or modification proceeding as provided in Section 201 of the Uniform Child-Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act [750 ILCS 36], pursuant to Section 601 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act;
Family means the applicant, his or her spouse, and the biological or adoptive children or stepchildren of the applicant or his or her spouse under age 21 living in the same household. Family must also include the child for whom care is requested, the child's dependent blood-related and adoptive siblings, and the child's and sibling's parents living in the same household. The family may include in his or her family other persons related by blood or law to the applicant or his or her spouse living in the same household if they are dependent upon the family for more than 50 percent of their support, if including these individuals would be beneficial for the family. The family may include in his or her family a child of the applicant or his or her spouse under age 21 who is dependent upon the family for more than 50 percent of his or her support and who is a full-time student away at school, provided he or she has not established legal residence outside the family household, if including these individuals would be beneficial for the family.
Teen parent means parents through age 19.
Procedure:
If the fifth degree of kinship cannot be determined from the submitted documents or CCMS, KIDS should be checked and uploaded to CCMS. Acceptable documents for proof of parenthood may include, but not limit to Birth Certificate, Baptismal Certificate, Medical Record, Census Record, Court Record, Marriage Certificate, DCFS record verifying DCFS children returned home, Hospital Record of Birth, Social Security Record, Veteran's Administration Record, Adoption Record, or Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity. Verbal or written self-reported relationship to the child is acceptable during the IES Mitigation plan.
NOTE: A Birth certificate issued in the City of Chicago for 1950 or later must have a file number starting with "6" or "7". A birth certificate issued in downstate counties or Cook County outside of Chicago for 1950 or later must have a file number starting with "0" or "1".
All two parent families must be service eligible per Section 01.03.01. Both parent's income shall be included per Section 01.02.02.
Include only those members who fit into the definition of family as stated above. Both biological parents, if living in the household, are included in the family size regardless of their marital status.
Example 1
Applicant - Mother, Age 25
Child of applicant, age 3
Child of applicant, age 1
FAMILY SIZE = 3
Example 2
Applicant - Mother, age 28
Child of applicant, age 2
Sister of Applicant, age 24 - is not dependent upon the applicant for more than 50% of her support
Niece of applicant, age 3, child of applicant's sister
FAMILY SIZE = 2 (Two separate households consisting of 2 members per household)
Example 3
Applicant - Mother, age 46
Father, age 46
Child, age 3
Child, age 4
Child of Applicant, age 20 (dependent upon family for more than 50% of his support)
FAMILY SIZE = 5
Example 4
Applicant - Mother, age 15 attending High School
Child of applicant, age 18 months
Mother of Applicant, age 40
Sibling of Applicant, age 13
FAMILY SIZE = 2 (Teen applicant and applicant's child)
Example 5
Applicant - Mother, age 27
Boyfriend, age 28
Child of Applicant only, age 8
Child of Applicant and boyfriend, age 3
FAMILY SIZE = 4
Example 6
Applicant - Mother, age 39
Father, age 38
Child, age 10
Child, age 19 (full-time student away at college and has not established legal residence outside the family household)
FAMILY SIZE = 4
Example 7
Applicant - Mother, age 32
Child, age 8
Child, age 10
Stepfather, age 36
FAMILY SIZE = 4
Example 8
Applicant - Mother, age 28
Father, age 29 (currently living away from home due to military service)
Child, age 5
FAMILY SIZE = 2
Example 9
Applicant - Mother, age 21
Child, age 3
Grandmother & Grandfather (not dependent upon the applicant for more than 50% of their support)
FAMILY SIZE = 2
Five Degrees of Kinship
Relative caregivers within the first 5 degrees of kinship do not need to have legal guardianship of the child care is being applied for. The degrees of kinship are the following blood and adoptive relatives:
- first degree
- 2nd degree
- Brother or Sister
- Grandfather or Grandmother
- 3rd degree
- Aunt or Uncle
- Nephew or Niece
- Great Grandfather or Great Grandmother
- 4th degree
- Great Aunt or Great Uncle
- First Cousin
- Great Great Grandfather or Great Great Grandmother
- Great-niece, or Great-nephew
- 5th degree
- Great-Great Aunt or Great-Great Uncle
- First Cousin once removed (Second Cousin)
- Great Great Great Grandfather or Great Great Great Grandmother
- Great Great Niece or Great Great Nephew
Step Relatives
- Step-father or Step-mother
- Step-brother or Step-sister
- Spouse of Relative
The spouse of a blood, step, or adoptive relative is the same degree of kinship as the relative. The spouse can be a caretaker relative even if the marriage has ended by death or divorce.
