Wisconsin Works (W-2)

1. Wisconsin Works (W-2) An Overview for Domestic Violence (DV) Advocates November 2012

2. Learning Objectives Upon completion of this course, you will be able to: • Describe the Basic Assumptions of W-2 • Describe the basic eligibility criteria of W-2 • Non-Financial • Financial • Explain services to be provided to parents participating in W-2 • Explain the W-2 application process • Explain good cause for non-participation • Explain good cause for CS non-cooperation • Describe how effective collaboration benefits the customer

3. W-2 Program Introduction Wisconsin’s W-2 Program is administered through the Division of Family and Economic Security, Bureau of Working Families in the Department of Children and Families (DCF).

4. W-2 Program Introduction The mission of DCF is to promote the economic and social well-being of Wisconsin's children and families. The Department is committed to protecting children, strengthening families, and building communities.

5. W-2 Program Introduction The goal of Wisconsin Works (W-2) is to provide necessary and appropriate services to prepare parents to get and keep viable, self-sustaining employment, which will promote economic stability.

6. W-2 Program Introduction Depending on the need of the participant, W-2 agencies provide job search assistance, work experience opportunities, and education and training. They also promote integrated access to many related services such as: FoodShare Healthcare Child Care Child Support Emergency Assistance Energy Assistance Transportation Assistance Housing Assistance

7. W-2 Basic Assumptions • Work is the best way for parents to support their families. • Family income should improve when parents work. • Consistent work is essential for parents to achieve economic stability. • W-2 participants are parents as well as job seekers. • Eligible parents must be willing to participate in exchange for W-2 benefits. • Families benefit from participating in W-2. • W-2 matches the needs of working parents with the needs of local employers.

8. W-2 Eligibility Criteria Who may be eligible to receive W-2 services? • Custodial Parents • Non-Custodial Parents • Single Pregnant Women with no other born minor children living with them • Minor Teen Parents

9. W-2 Eligibility Criteria Only Custodial Parents may be placed in a paid employment position. All other individuals may be provided case management services only - with one exception - At-Risk Pregnancy.

10. W-2 Eligibility Criteria—Non-financial Participants will be asked to provide: • Verification of citizenship (or Qualified Alien Status) and date of birth for all W-2 group members • Verification of income and assets • Social Security numbers for all W-2 group members

11. W-2 Eligibility Criteria—Non-Financial Participants must: • Cooperate with the Child Support Agency • Cooperate in the requirement to search for employment (if appropriate) • Not be receiving SSI or SSDI

12. W-2 Eligibility Criteria—Non-Financial Good Cause Reasons for not cooperating with Child Support • Cooperation is reasonably anticipated to result in either physical or emotional harm to the child, including threats of domestic abuse or child kidnapping; • Cooperation is reasonably anticipated to result in either physical or emotional harm to the parent, including domestic abuse; • Cooperation with the Child Support Agency (CSA) would make it more difficult for the individual to escape domestic abuse or unfairly penalize the individual who is or has been victimized by such abuse, or is at risk of further domestic abuse;

13. W-2 Eligibility Criteria—Non-Financial Good Cause Reasons for not cooperating with Child Support (cont.) • The child was conceived as a result of incest or sexual assault; • The parent is considering whether to terminate parental rights and sought the assistance of a public or licensed private social services agency not more than three months ago; or • A petition for the adoption of the child has been filed with a court; except this reason does not result in any exemption from the parent’s responsibility to make payments under an existing court order.

14. W-2 Eligibility Criteria—Non-financial Good Cause Reasons for not cooperating with Child Support What may be the supporting evidence a victim/survivor may have to support the good cause reasons?

15. W-2 Eligibility Criteria—Financial Income Limits: Countable income must be less than 115% of the Federal Poverty Level for family size. Group SizeMonthly Income Limit 1 $1,044 2 $1,410 3 $1,776 4 $2,142

16. W-2 Eligibility Criteria—Financial What incomes are countable? Examples: • SSI & SSDI payments • Alimony • Earned Income • Unemployment Compensation • Workman’s Compensation

17. W-2 Eligibility Criteria—Financial What incomes are disregarded? Examples: • Child Support • Family Support • Educational Aide • Kinship Care • Foster Care Payments

18. W-2 Eligibility CriteriaFinancial Asset Limits: $2500 or less in countable assets What assets are countable? Examples: • Checking accounts • Savings accounts • Equity value of vehicles that exceed $10,000

19. W-2 Eligibility Criteria—Financial What assets are disregarded? Examples: • Homestead property • Irrevocable trusts • An asset that can’t be accessed for at least 31 days

20. W-2 Application Participant Flow The agency must schedule/offer an appointment with a Resource Specialist (RS) either on the day the participant requests W-2 or the next business day. The RS will: • Assess the situation of the applicant/family • Discuss W-2 Program options • Discuss resources within the W-2 agency, community resources, and supportive services • Assess the applicant for their level of job readiness • Offer the Barrier Screening Tool (BST) • Informal Assessment Inventory

21. W-2 Application Participant Flow • Purpose of the Barrier Screening Tool (BST) • When we offer the Barrier Screening Tool (BST)

22. W-2 Application Participant Flow By business day five (5), the Financial Employment Planner (FEP) must meet with the applicant/offer an appointment. The FEP will: • Collect and record information to determine W-2 eligibility; • Discuss job search efforts (if assigned as a condition of eligibility); and • Continue assessment process (Informal and Formal)

23. W-2 Application Participant Flow By business day 12, W-2 eligibility will be determined and if found eligible the appropriate placement decision will be made. Activities are assigned based on the individuals’ assessment information, their employment goals, and the requirements of the W-2 program.

24. W-2 Employment Positions- Custodial parent Category • Paid • TJ—Trial Jobs • CSJ—Community Service Jobs • W-2 T—W-2 Transitions • CMC—Caretaker of an Infant • Unpaid • CMN—Case Management for Non-custodial Parents • CMU—Case Management for employed individuals • CMD—Case Management for Decline of Extension

25. W-2 Employment Position-CMJ • Is for unemployed individuals who are able to find and keep employment. • Goal is to rapidly connect the individuals to employment. • CMJ is available only to W-2 applicants, and in limited situations: case management follow-up (CMF) participants, case management for underemployed (CMU) participants, and Caretaker of an Infant (CMC) participants.

26. W-2 Employment Position—Trial Job (TJ) • This position is for individuals who have the basic skills, but lack sufficient work experience to meet employer requirements. • The employer agrees to provide the participant with on-the-job work experience and training in exchange for a wage subsidy. • Trial Jobs are expected to result in permanent employment. • The employer must pay the participant a wage comparable to that paid to regular employees in similarly classified positions. • Trial Job participants may be eligible for the state and federal Earned Income Credit, FoodShare, Medicaid, child care assistance, and Job Access Loans.

27. W-2 Employment Position—Customer Service Job (CSJ) Individuals who are unemployed due to: • Little or no work history • Lack of skills and/or work habits needed to gain and maintain employment

28. W-2 Employment Position—Customer Service Job (CSJ) A CSJ participant may be required to participate up to 40 hours/week in work training and educational activities. A CSJ payment is $653/month.

29. W-2 Employment Position—Customer Service Job (CSJ) Work training activities for a CSJ may include: • Work experience • Job search activities • Specialized skills training • Meetings with child support staff, social workers, health care professionals or other staff necessary to prepare a job seeker for employment

30. W-2 Employment Position—Customer Service Job (CSJ) Educational activities may include: • A course of study leading toward obtaining a high school diploma, GED, or HSED • Courses that provide an employment skill • Employer sponsored training • English as a Second Language course of study

31. W-2 Employment Position—Wisconsin Works Transition (W-2 T) A participant may be placed into a W-2 Transition (W-2 T) position if: • The participant is determined to have a limitation (temporary or permanent) or barrier to employment expected to last over 60 days; OR • The participant is needed in the home to care for another W-2 group member who is severely incapacitated or ill.

32. W-2 Employment Position—Wisconsin Works Transition (W-2 T) A W-2 T participant may be required to participate up to 40 hours/week in work training and education activities. A W-2 T payment is $608/month.

33. W-2 Employment Position—Wisconsin Works Transition (W-2 T) Work training activities for a W-2 T may include: • Community rehabilitation program • Activities similar to that of a CSJ, but with more supervision • Formal assessment • Court ordered activities • Activities related to obtaining shelter or retaining safety

34. W-2 Employment Position—Wisconsin Works Transition (W-2 T) Education activities may include: • A course of study leading toward obtaining a high school diploma, GED, or HSED • Courses that provide an employment skill • Employer sponsored training • English as a Second Language course of study

35. W-2 Employment Position—Caretaker of an Infant (CMC) A custodial parent of an infant who is less than 8 weeks old may receive a Custodial Parent of an Infant (CMC) placement. A CMC payment is $673/month.

36. W-2 Employment Position—Caretaker of an Infant (CMC) A CMC customer is not required to engage in any W-2 activities, however, volunteer participation is encouraged to prepare the customer to enter the workforce after his/her child reaches 8 weeks of age. After the child reaches 8 weeks of age, the CMC customer will be reassessed to determine the most appropriate placement.

37. W-2 Employment Position—Case Management Only • CMD—Case Management when extension is denied • CMU—Case Management for employed individuals

38. W-2 Employment Position– other Categories • At-Risk Pregnancy (ARP) • Non-Custodial Parents (CMN) • Pregnant Women (CMP) • Minor Parents (CMM) Case management services may be available to individuals in these placements.

39. W-2 Employment Position—At Risk Pregnancy (ARP) • ARP- at-risk pregnancy • Available to unmarried women in the third trimester of pregnancy who have a medically verified at risk pregnancy • An ARP placement payment of $673/month.

40. W-2 Employment Position—Case Management Only • Non-Custodial Parents (CMN) • Pregnant Women (CMP) • Minor Parents (CMM)

41. Job Access Loans (JALs) • Job Access Loans (JALs) are short-term loans designed to meet expenses related to obtaining or maintaining employment. • Eligibility for a JAL is similar to that of W-2 non-financial and financial requirements. • The local W-2 agency can approve a JAL from $25 to $1,600 in a 12-month period. • The JAL may be paid back in cash or a combination of cash and community service work (not to exceed 75% of the loan).

42. Job Access Loans (JALs) Loans can be used for: • Car loans and/or repairs • Fees to obtain a driver’s license, including payments of fines except OWI violations • Clothing/uniforms for work • Rent or security deposits to prevent eviction • Moving expenses related to obtaining or maintaining employment

43. W-2 Payment Reductions Payments to CSJ and W-2T customers who fail to participate in assigned activities are reduced by $5.00 per hour for hours missed without good cause.

44. Good Cause Per W-2 policy, some absences will be granted good cause. Examples include: • Required court appearance • Unavailable child care • Lack of transportation • Illness • Domestic violence issues • Death in family • Observance of a religious holiday

45. Fact Finding Customers who believe than an agency decision regarding any component of W-2 or Job Access Loans is incorrect may request a Fact Finding Review by the W-2 agency. The request must be made within 45 days of the decision.

46. W-2 Time Limits 24-Month Time Limit Participation in a TJ,CSJ, & W-2 T is limited to 24 months. Each placement has its own 24-month time limit and, therefore, a participant has 24 months in each of the placement types.

47. W-2 Time Limits • Both the federal block grant (TANF) and the W-2 legislation include a 60-month lifetime limit for eligibility. • Case Management only positions (non-payment) have no time limitations. • Extensions to time limits are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

48. Job Retention Services Customers that secure unsubsidized employment are offered 12-months of Case Management services.

49. Job Retention Services The goal of these follow-up services is to ensure job stability and encourage and assist in the development of career paths and advancement in the workplace.

50. Job Retention Services These services may include: • Job counseling and support • Supportive service referrals • Career development • Education and training strategies • Job skills training • Connections to other financial supports