Reporting Changes

A family that has entered into an agreement with DFPS to receive Permanency Care Assistance is responsible for immediately reporting to the appropriate eligibility specialist changes in circumstances that may affect assistance, including the following:

• Any name or address changes.
• A change in marital status.
• The death of a child or permanent managing conservator.
• The incapacitation of the permanent managing conservator.
• The relocation of the child (the child no longer lives with the permanent managing conservator).
• A change in the child’s legal status.
• A change in any circumstance that would warrant termination of the agreement for PCA.

Making a Request

When a change in a family’s circumstances affects the child’s current needs, or affects the family’s ability to meet those needs, the family may request a change in the monthly payment. The family may make the request only if the family is not already receiving the maximum monthly payment.

The request for a change must be both of the following:

• Made in writing.
• Subject to the requirements and limitations explained in 1617.2 Determining the Payment Ceiling When Negotiating for PCA and 1617.3 Other Considerations When Negotiating for PCA.

Processing a Request

Upon receiving a request for a change in the monthly payment, the PCA negotiator contacts the permanent managing conservator within 10 business days to negotiate a new payment amount.

Negotiated increases are effective no earlier than the first of the month following the month in which the new agreement is signed.

The adoption assistance eligibility specialist updates the information reported as a change within five days of receiving the change.

DFPS Rules, 40 TAC §700.1049External Link