Daycare losing licensing...

[Alwaysabridesmaidf]

I am devastated. She got the letter today that her renewal was denied because her son (who got a DWI in 2014) lives with her and technically has a criminal record. She has taken care of all my cousins and my little brother so she is like family to us. She is so amazing and loves my baby so much. This is breaking my heart. She has to shut down by the 22nd. She said she has helped fellow providers through similar situations and that letters from her clients and friends may help. Has anyone dealt with anything similar?

Thanks. I am just so sad and stuck at work and the weather is shitty and I just want to cry for my baby and for this woman who is so amazing.

[Ohhmm(bligo)]

Honestly, something like that, where you know and trust this woman already?

I'd ask her if she still wanted to watch her. I don't know about in MA, but in PA, you can watch up to four children without needing to be licensed.

[Deleted]

Ditto PP, I'd call and check the state requirements. DD went to an in-home daycare that wasn't licensed (it was the owner and her daughter and there were 6 kids).

[papie]

Is she allowed to still watch them? I'd probably leave the kid there.  And I'm surprised they shut her down for her son's DUI.  We just had a similar situation (our daycare is also a licensing board for inhome daycares and I'm the chairwoman of the board) and we decided that a one time DUI of someone living there was not a danger to the children. Maybe the regulation is different and allows more flexibility here.  But if it could help to write her a letter, I definitely would.

Also, not to be shitty, but she could just ask her son to move out and keep her daycare.  Another one of our providers just did that recently (it was not for a DUI).  I understand things aren't always so black and white.  

[thejen626]

Agree with PP's. My inhome provider came to me and told me she was going to let her license lapse because of the cost. I knew her and her family and trusted them 100%. The license wasn't necessary in my mind.

[Mrs. ChanandlerBong]

Feb 5, 2016 11:52:59 GMT -5 papie said:

Is she allowed to still watch them? I'd probably leave the kid there.  And I'm surprised they shut her down for her son's DUI.  We just had a similar situation (our daycare is also a licensing board for inhome daycares and I'm the chairwoman of the board) and we decided that a one time DUI of someone living there was not a danger to the children. Maybe the regulation is different and allows more flexibility here.  But if it could help to write her a letter, I definitely would.

Also, not to be shitty, but she could just ask her son to move out and keep her daycare.  Another one of our providers just did that recently (it was not for a DUI).  I understand things aren't always so black and white.  

I was going to say this.  If I found out my adult child's bad choices were causing my business/income to be shut down, there would be serious discussions about removing that person from the home.

[themysteriouswife]

She could be using this as a way to quit. talk to her. See what she wants to do.

[jeaniebueller]

I am not trying to doubt your DCP, but would be shocked if her son having a DWI and living in the home is what is causing her to have her license yanked. I don't think you are getting the full story.

[cats]

Question: if an in-home daycare isn't licensed, does that mean they cannot submit meals for taxes? (I know nothing of how that works; I assume it varies from state to state.)

[cayl]

Is she going to try to keep her license? When my kids went to an in-home daycare there was a paperwork issue, and she had to close down for a week while it was all sorted out. She couldn't have kids there because if someone stopped by and saw her there with kids she would have permanently lost her license. If she's going to try to keep her license then I would try to find alternative care while she figures things out, but if not, I agree with the others, and I would look into keeping your child there. I would try to do some research first, though, to see if you can verify her story.

[speckledfrog]

I also thought that perhaps you aren't getting the full story from her. I'm sorry you're in this position.

[Alwaysabridesmaidf]

Thanks ladies. We are all writing to the office, including her son's probation officer, employer and co-workers. I know this family very well and have for over 16 years. I trust her whole heartedly and her son is a very nice person who went through a very tough time and made a shit decision. I was able to contact her DEEC licensor and talk with her. She was very nice and was confident that the letters would help push this through but it still needs to go to the CORI office as well. They said to add that her son does not in any way assist DCP in her job as a provider. It seems like it is more a technicality than anything.

I was also able to inquire about why she is not able to renew and it is due to the DWI which is considered a criminal record.

DCP definitely wants to renew. This is her life and she loves these kids. She has been in business for 30 years.

[Alwaysabridesmaidf]

Feb 5, 2016 11:52:59 GMT -5 papie said:

Is she allowed to still watch them? I'd probably leave the kid there.  And I'm surprised they shut her down for her son's DUI.  We just had a similar situation (our daycare is also a licensing board for inhome daycares and I'm the chairwoman of the board) and we decided that a one time DUI of someone living there was not a danger to the children. Maybe the regulation is different and allows more flexibility here.  But if it could help to write her a letter, I definitely would.

Also, not to be shitty, but she could just ask her son to move out and keep her daycare.  Another one of our providers just did that recently (it was not for a DUI).  I understand things aren't always so black and white.  

I'm guessing this is next. He lost his home, all his belongings and his pets to an apartment fire (a neighbor's fault) a few months before his DUI which is why he moved back in. It's easier for him since he doesn't have a license. But I think she would choose her business and the kids in this situation.

[nikki25]

Feb 5, 2016 13:13:01 GMT -5 cats said:

Question: if an in-home daycare isn't licensed, does that mean they cannot submit meals for taxes? (I know nothing of how that works; I assume it varies from state to state.)

No, you won't be able to claim it for a deduction or use your dependant care HSA as you need their tax ID number.

[OrangeBanana]

Feb 5, 2016 13:13:01 GMT -5 cats said:

Question: if an in-home daycare isn't licensed, does that mean they cannot submit meals for taxes? (I know nothing of how that works; I assume it varies from state to state.)

I ran an unlicensed in home daycare for 8 years. I reported all income on my taxes and reported the number of meals/snacks as I provided as a deduction. 

[jigsy]

Feb 5, 2016 16:33:42 GMT -5 OrangeBanana said:

Feb 5, 2016 13:13:01 GMT -5 cats said:

I ran an unlicensed in home daycare for 8 years. I reported all income on my taxes and reported the number of meals/snacks as I provided as a deduction. 

Random, unrelated to OP question - What is the point of the game "Heads down, thumbs up"

Like, all I can remember is that you say that, and one person goes around and it your thumb is tapped, you put it down...but then what? Is there chasing involved...like duck duck goose?

[sonrisa]

I hate to say this, but there is a chance she isn't giving you the full story, or she might not even know the full story. (She knows she was denied because of her son's crime. And she knows he got a DUI, but he's an adult. She might not know if he got in trouble for something else at some point.)

I know I'm more paranoid than average. My husband has had some "surprise! pedophile!" clients so I'd never overlook a failed background check.

I don't mean I think this guy is a pedophile. I mean that there are very few warning signs that something can go wrong in the world. If one gets triggered, I'm not ignoring it. 

[OrangeBanana]

Feb 5, 2016 16:51:53 GMT -5 googled said:

Feb 5, 2016 16:46:53 GMT -5 jigsy said:

Random, unrelated to OP question - What is the point of the game "Heads down, thumbs up"

Like, all I can remember is that you say that, and one person goes around and it your thumb is tapped, you put it down...but then what? Is there chasing involved...like duck duck goose?

Lol. There's like 3-5 people (depending inthensoze of your group) who go around and put one thumb down each. Then when all heads go up, anyone with a thumb down has to guess who chose them. If the guesser is correct, they get to switch places with the person who put their thumb down.

I'm glad you knew the answer to that question! I remembered playing it in school but couldn't remember how to play it. Not sure why I choose this screen name. I suppose I was trying to think of something really quick and this is what popped into my head at the time?! 

[cinderbella]

Feb 5, 2016 15:15:49 GMT -5 nikki25 said:

Feb 5, 2016 13:13:01 GMT -5 cats said:

Question: if an in-home daycare isn't licensed, does that mean they cannot submit meals for taxes? (I know nothing of how that works; I assume it varies from state to state.)

No, you won't be able to claim it for a deduction or use your dependant care HSA as you need their tax ID number.

I'm almost positive you'd still be able to use dependent care money to cover the costs. We put a little bit aside every year and claim it for my mom since she takes care of our kids during the summers. She doesn't have a tax ID number - we just used her SSN and made sure she claimed the income on her taxes.

[lattelady5]

Feb 5, 2016 16:51:53 GMT -5 googled said:

Feb 5, 2016 16:46:53 GMT -5 jigsy said:

Random, unrelated to OP question - What is the point of the game "Heads down, thumbs up"

Like, all I can remember is that you say that, and one person goes around and it your thumb is tapped, you put it down...but then what? Is there chasing involved...like duck duck goose?

Lol. There's like 3-5 people (depending inthensoze of your group) who go around and put one thumb down each. Then when all heads go up, anyone with a thumb down has to guess who chose them. If the guesser is correct, they get to switch places with the person who put their thumb down.

There's supposed to be 7 people, hence the name

[jeaniebueller]

Feb 5, 2016 13:56:43 GMT -5 Alwaysabridesmaidf said:

Thanks ladies. We are all writing to the office, including her son's probation officer, employer and co-workers. I know this family very well and have for over 16 years. I trust her whole heartedly and her son is a very nice person who went through a very tough time and made a shit decision. I was able to contact her DEEC licensor and talk with her. She was very nice and was confident that the letters would help push this through but it still needs to go to the CORI office as well. They said to add that her son does not in any way assist DCP in her job as a provider. It seems like it is more a technicality than anything.

I was also able to inquire about why she is not able to renew and it is due to the DWI which is considered a criminal record.

DCP definitely wants to renew. This is her life and she loves these kids. She has been in business for 30 years.

Is she trying to let him help watch kids? Again, I don't think someone is telling the truth.

[WOT?*]

Is the son working? I assume her hours are regular working hours. If his are similar, can there be a "he is not in the home during operating hours" exception?

[Alwaysabridesmaidf]

Feb 6, 2016 8:25:16 GMT -5 WOT?* said:

Is the son working? I assume her hours are regular working hours. If his are similar, can there be a "he is not in the home during operating hours" exception?

Yes. He works full time. He leaves right around the time we drop off and isn't home yet when we pick her up.

[nikki25]

Feb 5, 2016 21:55:02 GMT -5 @callmefia said:

Feb 5, 2016 15:15:49 GMT -5 nikki25 said:

No, you won't be able to claim it for a deduction or use your dependant care HSA as you need their tax ID number.

You have really jumbled this up and none of what you are saying is true.

1. Original question - yes an in home DCP can claim a deduction on their business return (typically a schedule c) for meals.

2. You can claim dependent care expenses for any type of daycare provider so long as the daycare provider gives you their tax ID which could be a SSN. This is only restrictive of paying a sibling because it can be used as a vehicle for tax evasion. If you pay an aunt to watch your kid for an evening, you can use that, as long as she provides a receipt and her SSN.

3. There is no such thing as a dependent care HSA. HSA stands for health savings account. You are confusing FSA, which stands for flexible spending account and is used for either health expenses and/or daycare expenses.

Yes, I know all this, and I just was in a rush and didn't have a chance to fully explain and it obviously didn't come out right.

I know what HSA and am not sure why I added that.

Yes, you can still claim and use dependant care funds for non-licensed daycares, in-home and/or if family members are watching them. But, as you stated, to claim this you need to provide the SSN of the provider and the provider needs to claim this income on their taxes. Not everyone wants this arrangement for a multitude of reasons and based upon the post I got the impression they may not want to claim due to the state revoking their license but I could and probably am off base.

Yes. Thank you for clarifying. I planned on righting more then got distracted.

To the OP I am really sorry : ( That really is bs.