DCF 101.17(1)(1) Eligibility criteria. An individual is eligible to receive a job access loan if, in addition to meeting the eligibility requirements under s. DCF 101.09 (2) to (4), all of the following conditions are met with respect to the individual: DCF 101.17(1)(a)(a) The individual needs the loan to address an immediate and discrete financial crisis. The crisis may not be the result of the individual’s failure to accept a bona fide offer of employment or the individual’s termination of a job without good cause. DCF 101.17(1)(b)(b) The individual needs the loan to obtain or continue employment. Fulfillment of this requirement includes a loan that is needed to repair or purchase a vehicle that is needed to obtain or continue employment. DCF 101.17(1)(c)(c) The individual is not in default with respect to the repayment of any previous job access loan or repayment of any grant or wage overpayments under s. DCF 101.16. DCF 101.17(2)(a)1.1. W-2 agencies shall issue a job access loan to an eligible individual in an amount not less than $25 and not more than $1600 in any 12-month period. DCF 101.17(2)(a)2.2. The maximum allowable amount for all loans and the maximum allowable outstanding balance for each individual receiving a job access loan shall be $1600. DCF 101.17(2)(b)(b) The Wisconsin works agency shall establish and maintain procedures that will expedite eligibility determinations and make emergency payments within 24 to 96 hours of loan approval, when necessary. DCF 101.17(2)(c)(c) The loan applicant shall present to the Wisconsin works agency for approval a repayment plan for each loan which incorporates the maximum level of cash repayment and the shortest repayment period that the Wisconsin works agency determines feasible. DCF 101.17(2)(d)1.a.a. The participant may repay a job access loan in cash or through a combination of cash and volunteer in-kind community work approved by the W-2 agency valued at the higher of the state or federal minimum wage rate. At least 25 percent of the loan amount shall be repaid in cash. Participants whose repayment plan includes volunteer work shall find the volunteer opportunity, obtain prior authorization from the Wisconsin works agency and arrange and pay for any needed child care. DCF 101.17(2)(d)1.b.b. The W-2 agency shall determine a minimum monthly repayment amount for each loan. Repayment plans may be renegotiated by the agency if there is a significant change of circumstances of the borrower. DCF 101.17(2)(d)2.2. The participant shall repay a job access loan within a 12-month period except that the repayment period may be extended to a maximum of 24 months if the participant requests an extension and the W-2 agency determines that it is appropriate. DCF 101.17(2)(d)3.3. The Wisconsin works agency shall provide monthly notices to clients of payments received and the outstanding balance. DCF 101.17(3)(3) Minor custodial parents. An individual who would be eligible for a job access loan under sub. (1), except that the individual has not attained the age of 18, is eligible under this subsection if the individual meets the following requirements: DCF 101.17(3)(a)(a) The individual is in one of the following supervised, alternative living arrangements: DCF 101.17(3)(a)4.4. An adult supervised independent living arrangement approved by the W-2 agency. In this subdivision, “adult-supervised independent living arrangement” means a setting approved by the W-2 agency in which a minor custodial parent is supervised by an on-site house parent. DCF 101.17(3)(b)(b) The individual has graduated from high school or has met the standards established by the department of public instruction for the granting of a declaration of equivalency of high school graduation under s. 115.29 (4), Stats. DCF 101.17(3)(c)(c) The individual will be 18 years old within 2 months after applying for the job access loan. DCF 101.17 NoteNote: See s. 49.147 (6) (am), Stats., regarding vehicle loan requirements and s. 49.147 (6) (e), Stats., regarding eligibility for noncustodial parents. DCF 101.17 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, October, 1997, No. 502, eff. 11-1-97; am. (1) (b), Register, January, 2001, No. 541, eff. 2-1-01; CR 06-044: am. (2) (a) 1., Register November 2006 No. 611, eff. 12-1-06; corrections in (1) (intro.) and (c) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register November 2008 No. 635; CR 21-090: am. (1) (intro.) Register July 2022 No. 799, eff. 8-1-22. DCF 101.18DCF 101.18 W-2 employment position wages and benefits. DCF 101.18(1)(1) Benefit levels for participants in employment positions. A participant in a Wisconsin works employment position shall receive the following wages or benefits: DCF 101.18(1)(a)(a) Trial employment match program jobs. For a participant in a trial employment match program job, the amount established in the contract between the Wisconsin works agency and the trial employment match program employer, but not less than minimum wage for every hour actually worked in the trial employment match program job, not to exceed 40 hours per week paid by the employer. Hours spent participating in education and training activities under s. DCF 101.16 (2) (c) shall be included in determining the number of hours actually worked. DCF 101.18(1)(b)(b) Community service jobs. For a participant in a community service job, a monthly grant in the amount provided under s. 49.148 (1) (b), Stats. For every hour that the participant misses work or education or training activities without good cause including any activity under s. DCF 101.16 (3) (c) 2., the Wisconsin works agency shall reduce the grant amount by the amount provided under s. 49.148 (1) (b), Stats. Good cause shall be determined by the financial and employment planner as provided under s. DCF 101.20. DCF 101.18(1)(c)(c) Transitional placements. For a participant in a transitional placement, a monthly grant in the amount provided under s. 49.148 (1) (c), Stats. For every hour that the participant fails to participate in any required activity without good cause, including any activity under s. DCF 101.16 (4) (b) 2., the Wisconsin works agency shall reduce the grant amount by the amount provided under s. 49.148 (1) (c), Stats. Good cause shall be determined by the financial and employment planner as provided under s. DCF 101.20. DCF 101.18(2)(a)(a) A custodial parent of a child who is 8 weeks old or less and who meets the eligibility requirements under s. DCF 101.09 (2) to (4) may receive a monthly grant in the amount provided under s. 49.148 (1m), Stats. A Wisconsin works agency may not require a participant under this subsection to participate in a trial employment match program job, CSJ, or transitional placement. DCF 101.18(2)(b)1.1. The grant does not constitute participation in a Wisconsin works employment position if the child described in sub. (1) is born to the participant not more than 10 months after the date that the participant was first determined to be eligible for AFDC or for a Wisconsin works employment position. DCF 101.18(2)(b)2.2. The grant constitutes participation in a Wisconsin works employment position if the child described in sub. (1) is born to the participant more than 10 months after the date that the participant was first determined to be eligible for AFDC or for a Wisconsin works employment position, unless any of the following conditions are met: DCF 101.18(2)(b)2.a.a. The child was conceived as a result of a sexual assault in violation of s. 940.225 (1), (2), or (3), Stats., or in violation of s. 948.02 or 948.025, Stats., and the sexual assault has been reported to a physician and to law enforcement authorities. DCF 101.18(2)(b)2.b.b. The child was conceived as a result of incest in violation of s. 944.06 or 948.06, Stats., and the incest has been reported to a physician and to law enforcement authorities. DCF 101.18 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, October, 1997, No. 502, eff. 11-1-97; correction made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register November 2008 No. 635; CR 18-016: am. (2) (a), r. and recr. (2) (b) Register October 2021 No. 790, eff. 11-1-21; CR 21-090: am. (2) (a) Register July 2022 No. 799, eff. 8-1-22; CR 21-091: am. (1) (a), (2) (a) Register July 2022 No. 799, eff. 8-1-22; merger of (2) (a) treatments by CR 21-090 and CR 21-091 made under s. 13.92 (4) (bm), Stats., Register July 2022 No. 799. DCF 101.19(1)(1) Designation of payee. CSJ or transitional placement benefits shall be made payable as appropriate to: DCF 101.19(1)(b)(b) Spouse of the participant. The spouse shall be living in the home unless designated as protective payee or appointed by a court to be the legal representative. DCF 101.19(2)(a)(a) If continued mismanagement of funds is a threat to the health and safety of the child as determined by the FEP, all or part of the CSJ or transitional placement benefit may be a protective payment or part of the CSJ or W-2 T benefit may be a direct payment and part a protective or vendor payment or both. The W-2 agency shall investigate reports of mismanagement before instituting protective or vendor payments. DCF 101.19(2)(b)(b) The W-2 agency shall document in the case record the reason for the authorization of protective or vendor payment and shall show the name of the eligible participant, the name of the protective or vendor payee, and the amount and form of payment authorized. DCF 101.19 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, October, 1997, No. 502, eff. 11-1-97. DCF 101.195DCF 101.195 Notice before taking certain actions. DCF 101.195(1)(1) Twenty percent or more reduction. Before a Wisconsin works agency may take any action that would result in a 20 percent or more reduction in a participant’s benefits due to nonparticipation with Wisconsin works program requirements, the Wisconsin works agency shall issue a written notice to the participant. The notice shall be issued no later than 5 business days following the department’s notification to the Wisconsin works agency of participants subject to a potential 20 percent or more payment reduction. The notice shall contain all of the following information: DCF 101.195(1)(d)(d) The amount to be deducted from the benefit for each hour of nonparticipation. DCF 101.195(2)(2) Termination. Before taking any action that would result in termination of a participant’s eligibility to participate in Wisconsin works, a Wisconsin works agency shall issue a written notice to the participant. The notice shall include a date and description of the deficiency, failure, or other behavior that has resulted in the termination of eligibility. DCF 101.195(3)(a)(a) In this subsection, “reasonable time” means within 7 business days after the date of the written notice issued by the Wisconsin works agency under sub. (1) or (2). DCF 101.195(3)(b)(b) A participant who believes the Wisconsin works agency’s decision to reduce benefits or terminate eligibility is in error may, within a reasonable time, provide the Wisconsin works agency with a good cause reason for the deficiency, failure, or other behavior to avoid the reduction of benefits or termination of eligibility. DCF 101.195(3)(c)(c) If the Wisconsin works agency determines the participant had good cause under s. DCF 101.20, the Wisconsin works agency shall take action to restore the participant’s benefits or eligibility to the level determined to be appropriate by the Wisconsin works agency retroactive to the date on which the benefit or eligibility was incorrectly reduced or terminated. DCF 101.195(3)(d)(d) If the participant does not provide the Wisconsin works agency with a good cause reason within a reasonable time or if the Wisconsin works agency determines the participant did not have good cause under s. DCF 101.20, the Wisconsin works agency shall proceed with the proposed action to reduce benefits or terminate eligibility. DCF 101.195 HistoryHistory: CR 17-066: cr. Register July 2018 No. 751, eff. 8-1-18. DCF 101.20(1)(1) Good cause circumstances. The FEP shall determine if a W-2 employment participant had good cause for not complying with the W-2 participation requirements or for failing to appear in person or by representative at a scheduled review under s. 49.152 (2), Stats. No good cause shall exist unless the participant provides timely notification of the good cause reason to the FEP. Good cause shall be any of the following circumstances: DCF 101.20(1)(a)(a) A required court appearance, including a required court appearance for a victim of domestic abuse. DCF 101.20(1)(b)(b) Necessary child care is unavailable and the W-2 agency is unable to provide child care or refer the participant to alternate child care arrangements. DCF 101.20(1)(c)(c) Lack of transportation with no reasonable alternative, as determined by the FEP. In determining the reasonableness of transportation alternatives, the FEP shall consider the length of the participant’s commute, participant safety, the cost of the transportation relative to the participant’s income, and other relevant factors. DCF 101.20(1)(d)(d) Participant or W-2 group member’s illness, injury, disability, or incapacity. DCF 101.20(1)(e)(e) Accommodations that have been determined necessary in a formal assessment are not available to allow the participant to complete the assigned activity. DCF 101.20(1)(f)(f) Conflict with another assigned W-2 activity or job search attempts. DCF 101.20(1)(k)(k) Routine medical or school appointments that cannot be scheduled at times other than during assigned activities. DCF 101.20(1)(m)(m) Any day that the worksite or training site is closed due to a site-specific holiday. DCF 101.20(1)(n)(n) Death in the participant’s immediate family. For purposes of this paragraph: DCF 101.20(1)(n)1.1. “Immediate family” means a participant’s spouse, nonmarital co-parent, step-parent, grandparent, foster parent, child, step-child, grandchild, foster child, brother and his spouse, sister and her spouse, aunt, uncle, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, cousin, niece and nephew of the participant or the participant’s spouse or nonmarital co-parent, and other relatives of the participant or the participant’s spouse or nonmarital co-parent if these other relatives reside in the same household as the participant. DCF 101.20(1)(n)2.2. A participant may be granted good cause for no more than 3 business days if only local travel is necessary to attend the funeral services. A participant may be granted good cause for no more than 7 business days if long-distance travel is required to attend the funeral services. In general, the good cause period may not exceed the week following the death of a member of the participant’s immediate family, but the FEP may lengthen the timeframe for good cause depending upon individual circumstances. DCF 101.20(1)(o)(o) Other circumstances beyond the control of the participant, but only as determined by the FEP. The FEP shall consider what a reasonable employer may allow under its absence policy and hardships that make completing activities and notifying the agency of missed activities more difficult for W-2 participants. DCF 101.20(2)(2) Timely notification. The participant shall notify the FEP of the good cause reason within 7 business days after an absence from a required activity to prevent a payment reduction under s. 49.148 (1) (b) 1., (b) 3., or (c), Stats. DCF 101.20(3)(3) Written documentation. In making a good cause determination, the FEP may require that the W-2 employment position participant provide written documentation that good cause existed before accepting a good cause reason for a participant’s absence from required activities if both of the following apply: DCF 101.20(3)(a)(a) The participant has a pattern of absences of more than 3 consecutive days or more than 5 days in a rolling 30-day period. An absence means being absent from any one required activity. A pattern of absences may include past absences for which a good cause reason was accepted. DCF 101.20(3)(b)(b) The FEP has reason to believe that the participant is misusing the good cause policy. DCF 101.20 HistoryHistory: 1997, No. 502, eff. 11-1-97; am. (2), Register, January, 2001, No. 541, eff. 2-1-01; correction in (2) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register November 2008 No. 635; CR 08-034: r. and recr. Register December 2010 No. 660, eff. 1-1-11; CR 21-091: am. (1) (intro.) Register July 2022 No. 799, eff. 8-1-22. DCF 101.21DCF 101.21 Sanctions — Refusal to participate. DCF 101.21(1)(a)(a) “Appropriate” means consistent with an individual’s employability plan.
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Chs. DCF 101-199; Family and Economic Security
administrativecode/DCF 101.18(1)(a)
administrativecode/DCF 101.18(1)(a)
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