Chapter 49

49.143(2m)(f)2. 2. Plan meal-oriented social events for mentors and qualified aliens.

49.143(2m)(g) (g) Obtain culture-specific food from statewide food banks.

49.143(2r) (2r) Job programs. A Wisconsin Works agency shall collaborate with the local workforce development board to connect individuals seeking employment with employment opportunities, including the trial employment match program under s. 49.147 (3).

49.143(3) (3) Performance standards, performance-based payments, and bonuses.

49.143(3)(a) (a) The department shall establish performance standards for the administration of Wisconsin Works. If a Wisconsin Works agency does not meet the standards established under this subsection, the department may withhold or recover any or all payment from the Wisconsin Works agency. Performance standards under this paragraph shall be based on all of the following criteria:

49.143(3)(a)1. 1. The placement of participants in Wisconsin Works employment positions into unsubsidized employment, as defined in s. 49.147 (1).

49.143(3)(a)2. 2. Whether the placement under subd. 1. is full time or part time.

49.143(3)(a)3. 3. The job retention rate, as defined by the department, at periodic intervals after placement of former participants in Wisconsin Works employment positions.

49.143(3)(a)4. 4. Wages and benefits earned by former participants in Wisconsin works employment positions.

49.143(3)(a)5. 5. Appropriate implementation of Wisconsin works.

49.143(3)(a)6. 6. Customer satisfaction.

49.143(3)(b) (b) The department shall create and implement a performance-based payment system for all contracts under this section based on the performance standards established under par. (a).

49.143(3)(c) (c) The department shall base any performance bonus calculation that it makes for Wisconsin Works agencies on the performance criteria established under par. (a). The department may not base any performance bonus payments on caseload decreases, or reduced spending by the Wisconsin Works agency, that are not directly attributable to placement of participants in unsubsidized employment.

49.143(4) (4) Audits. The department may require a Wisconsin works agency to submit to an independent annual audit paid for by the Wisconsin works agency.

49.143(5) (5) Requests for information.

49.143(5)(a) (a) In accordance with rules promulgated by the department, a Wisconsin works agency may request from any person any information that it determines appropriate and necessary for the administration of Wisconsin works. Any person in this state shall provide this information within 7 days after receiving a request under this paragraph. The Wisconsin works agency may extend the 7-day time limit for an individual for whom compliance with that limit would be unduly burdensome, as determined by the agency. The Wisconsin works agency may disclose information obtained under this paragraph only in the administration of Wisconsin works. The Wisconsin works agency shall keep all information that it receives regarding victims of domestic abuse strictly confidential, except to the extent needed to administer Wisconsin works.

49.143(5)(b) (b) The department may request from any Wisconsin works agency any information that the department determines appropriate and necessary for the overall administration of Wisconsin works. A Wisconsin works agency shall provide the department with the requested information in the manner prescribed by the department by rule.

49.143(5)(c) (c) The department may inspect at any time any Wisconsin works agency’s records as the department determines is appropriate and necessary for the overall administration of Wisconsin works.

49.143(5)(d) (d) The legislative audit bureau may inspect at any time any Wisconsin works agency’s records as the legislative audit bureau determines appropriate and necessary. If, in inspecting a Wisconsin works agency’s records, the legislative audit bureau inspects the records of individual participants, the legislative audit bureau shall protect the confidentiality of those records.

49.143(6) (6) Geographical areas. The department shall determine the geographical area for which a Wisconsin Works agency will administer Wisconsin Works. Except for federally recognized American Indian reservations and in counties with a population of 750,000 or more, no geographical area may be smaller than one county. A geographical area may include more than one county. The department need not establish the geographical areas by rule.

49.143 History History: 1995 a. 216, 289; 1997 a. 27, 36, 236, 318; 1999 a. 9, 32; 2001 a. 16; 2005 a. 25; 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 28, 333; 2011 a. 32, 257; 2013 a. 20, 225; 2015 a. 55, 172; 2017 a. 266; 2021 a. 238.

49.143 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. DCF 103, Wis. adm. code.

49.145 49.145 Wisconsin works; eligibility for employment positions.

49.145(1) (1) General eligibility. In order to be eligible for Wisconsin works employment positions and job access loans for any month, an individual shall meet the eligibility requirements under subs. (2) and (3). The department may promulgate rules establishing additional eligibility criteria and specifying how eligibility criteria are to be administered. The department may promulgate rules establishing payment and reporting periods as needed to administer this subsection.

49.145(2) (2) Nonfinancial eligibility requirements. An individual is eligible for a Wisconsin works employment position and a job access loan in a month only if all of the following nonfinancial eligibility requirements are met:

49.145(2)(a) (a) The individual is a custodial parent.

49.145(2)(b) (b) The individual has attained the age of 18.

49.145(2)(c) (c) The individual is a U.S. citizen or a qualifying alien, as defined by the department by rule.

49.145(2)(d) (d) The individual has residence in this state.

49.145(2)(f) (f)

49.145(2)(f)1. 1. Subject to subd. 2., all of the following conditions are met:

49.145(2)(f)1.a. a. Every parent in the individual’s Wisconsin works group fully cooperates in good faith with efforts directed at establishing the paternity of any minor child of that parent regardless of whether the parent is the custodial or noncustodial parent of that child. Such cooperation shall be in accordance with federal law and regulations and rules promulgated by the department applicable to paternity establishment and may not be required if the parent has good cause for refusing to cooperate, as determined by the department in accordance with federal law and regulations.

49.145(2)(f)1.b. b. Every parent in the individual’s Wisconsin works group fully cooperates in good faith with efforts directed at obtaining support payments or any other payments or property to which that parent and any minor child of that parent may have rights or for which that parent may be responsible, regardless of whether the parent is the custodial or noncustodial parent of the minor child. Such cooperation shall be in accordance with federal law and regulations and rules promulgated by the department applicable to collection of support payments and may not be required if the parent has good cause for refusing to cooperate, as determined by the department in accordance with federal law and regulations.

49.145(2)(f)2. 2. An individual who is a member of a Wisconsin works group that fails 3 times to meet the requirements under subd. 1. remains ineligible until all of the members of Wisconsin works group cooperate or for a period of 6 months, whichever is later.

49.145(2)(g) (g) The individual furnishes the Wisconsin works agency with any relevant information that the Wisconsin works agency determines is necessary, consistent with rules promulgated by the department, within 7 working days after receiving a request for the information from the Wisconsin works agency. The Wisconsin works agency may extend the 7-day time limit for an individual for whom compliance with that limit would be unduly burdensome, as determined by the agency.

49.145(2)(h) (h) The individual has made a good faith effort, as determined by the Wisconsin works agency on a case-by-case basis, to obtain employment and has not refused any bona fide offer of employment within the 180 days immediately preceding application.

49.145(2)(hm) (hm) If the individual has applied for Wisconsin works within the 180 days immediately preceding the current application, the individual has cooperated with the efforts of a Wisconsin works agency to assist the individual in obtaining employment.

49.145(2)(i) (i) The individual is not receiving supplemental security income under 42 USC 1381 to 1383c or state supplemental payments under s. 49.77 and, if the individual is a dependent child, the custodial parent of the individual does not receive a payment on behalf of the individual under s. 49.775. The department may require an individual who receives benefits under s. 49.148 and who has applied for supplemental security income under 42 USC 1381 to 1383c to authorize the federal social security administration to reimburse the department for the benefits paid to the individual under s. 49.148 during the period that the individual was entitled to supplemental security income benefits to the extent that retroactive supplemental security income benefits are made available to the individual.

49.145(2)(j) (j) On the last day of the month, the individual is not participating in a strike.

49.145(2)(k) (k) The individual applies for or provides a social security account number as required by the department.

49.145(2)(L) (L) The individual satisfies other eligibility criteria established by the department by rule.

49.145(2)(m) (m) The individual reports any change in circumstances that may affect his or her eligibility to the Wisconsin works agency within 10 days after the change.

49.145(2)(n) (n)

49.145(2)(n)1. 1. Except as provided in subd. 4., beginning on the date on which the individual has attained the age of 18, the total number of months in which the individual or any adult member of the individual’s Wisconsin Works group has participated in, or has received benefits under, any of the following or any combination of the following does not exceed 48 months, whether or not consecutive:

49.145(2)(n)1.a. a. The job opportunities and basic skills program under s. 49.193, 1997 stats. Active participation on or after October 1, 1996, in the job opportunities and basic skills program counts toward the 48-month limit.

49.145(2)(n)1.b. b. A Wisconsin works employment position.

49.145(2)(n)1.c. c. Any program in this state or in any other state funded by a federal block grant for temporary assistance for needy families under title I of P.L. 104-193, if the individual received benefits under that program that were attributable to funds provided by the federal government.

49.145(2)(n)2. 2. Except as provided in subd. 4., in calculating the number of months in which the individual participated under subd. 1., the Wisconsin works agency shall include any month in which any adult member of a Wisconsin works group participated in a Wisconsin works employment position, if the individual was a member of that Wisconsin works group during that month.

49.145(2)(n)3. 3. A Wisconsin Works agency may extend the time limit under this paragraph only if the Wisconsin Works agency determines, in accordance with rules promulgated by the department, that the individual is experiencing hardship or that the individual’s family includes an individual who has been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty.

49.145(2)(n)4. 4. In calculating the number of months under subds. 1. and 2., a Wisconsin works agency shall exclude, to the extent permitted under federal law, any month during which any adult in the Wisconsin works group participated in any activity listed under subd. 1. a. to c. while living on a federally recognized American Indian reservation, in an Alaskan Native village or, in Indian country, as defined in 18 USC 1151, occupied by an Indian tribe, if, during that month, all of the following applied:

49.145(2)(n)4.a. a. At least 1,000 individuals were living on the reservation or in the village or Indian country.

49.145(2)(n)4.b. b. At least 50 percent of the adults living on the reservation or in the village or Indian country were unemployed.

49.145(2)(q) (q) No other individual in the Wisconsin works group is a participant in a Wisconsin works employment position. This paragraph does not apply to an individual applying for a job access loan.

49.145(2)(r) (r) The individual is not a fugitive felon under 42 USC 608 (a) (9) (A) (i).

49.145(2)(rm) (rm) The individual is not violating a condition of probation, extended supervision or parole imposed under federal or state law.

49.145(2)(s) (s) The individual assigns to the state any right of the individual or of any dependent child of the individual to support or maintenance from any other person accruing during the time that any assistance, as defined in 45 CFR 260.31, under Wisconsin Works is paid to the individual. If a minor who is a beneficiary of any assistance under Wisconsin Works is also the beneficiary of support under a judgment or order that includes support for one or more children not receiving that assistance, any support payment made under the judgment or order is assigned to the state during the period that the minor is a beneficiary of that assistance in the amount that is the proportionate share of the minor receiving the assistance, except as otherwise ordered by the court on the motion of a party. Amounts assigned to the state under this paragraph remain assigned to the state until the amount due to the federal government has been recovered. No amount of support that begins to accrue after the individual ceases to receive assistance under Wisconsin Works may be considered assigned to this state. Except as provided in s. 49.1455, 75 percent of all money that is received by the department in a month under an assignment to the state under this paragraph for an individual applying for or participating in Wisconsin Works shall be paid to the individual applying for or participating in Wisconsin Works. The department shall pay the federal share of support assigned under this paragraph as required under federal law or waiver.

49.145(2)(v) (v) The individual states in writing whether the individual has been convicted in any state or federal court of a felony that has as an element possession, use or distribution of a controlled substance, as defined in 21 USC 802 (6).

49.145(3) (3) Financial eligibility requirements. An individual is eligible for a Wisconsin works employment position and a job access loan only if all of the following financial eligibility requirements are met:

49.145(3)(a) (a) Resource limitations. The individual is a member of a Wisconsin Works group whose assets do not exceed $2,500 in combined equity value. Except as provided under par. (c), in determining the combined equity value of assets, the Wisconsin Works agency shall exclude the equity value of vehicles up to a total equity value of $10,000, and one home, valued at no more than 200 percent of the statewide median value for homes, that serves as the homestead for the Wisconsin Works group. In calculating the value of the homestead, the Wisconsin Works agency shall exclude the value of agricultural land owned by the Wisconsin Works group.

49.145(3)(b) (b) Income limitations. The individual is a member of a Wisconsin works group whose gross income is at or below 115 percent of the poverty line. In calculating gross income under this paragraph, the Wisconsin works agency shall include all of the following:

49.145(3)(b)1. 1. All earned and unearned income of the individual, except any amount received under section 32 of the Internal Revenue Code, as defined in s. 71.01 (6), any amount received under s. 71.07 (9e), any payment made by an employer under section 3507 of the Internal Revenue Code, as defined in s. 71.01 (6), any student financial aid received under any federal or state program, any scholarship used for tuition and books, and any assistance received under s. 49.148. In determining the earned and unearned income of the individual, the Wisconsin works agency may not include income earned by a dependent child of the individual.

49.145(3)(b)3. 3. The income of a nonmarital coparent or of the individual’s spouse, if the spouse resides in the same home as the dependent child.

49.145(3)(c) (c) Hardship exemption. The department may promulgate a rule that establishes a hardship exemption for the resource limitation under par. (a). If an individual qualifies for a hardship exemption under the department’s rule, the Wisconsin Works agency shall exclude the equity value of vehicles up to a total equity value of $10,000, and of one home, valued at any amount, that serves as the homestead for the Wisconsin Works group in determining whether the Wisconsin Works group’s combined equity value of assets exceeds $2,500.

49.145(4) (4) Review of eligibility. A Wisconsin works agency shall periodically review an individual’s eligibility. The individual remains eligible under sub. (3) until the Wisconsin works group’s assets or income is expected to exceed the asset or income limit under sub. (3) for at least 2 consecutive months.

49.145 History History: 1995 a. 289; 1997 a. 27, 191, 237, 283; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 16; 2005 a. 25; 2009 a. 28; 2015 a. 55; 2017 a. 269.

49.145 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. DCF 101.09, Wis. adm. code.

49.1452 49.1452 Payment of support arrears. If an individual who formerly participated in, but is no longer participating in, Wisconsin Works assigned to the state under s. 49.145 (2) (s) his or her right or the right of any dependent child of the individual to support or maintenance from any other person, the department shall pay to the individual all money in support or maintenance arrears that is collected by the department after the individual’s participation ceased and that accrued while the individual was participating in Wisconsin Works.

49.1452 History History: 2009 a. 28.

49.1455 49.1455 Child support demonstration project. The department may conduct a demonstration project, pursuant to the terms and conditions of a federal waiver, under which the department may pay to an individual whom the department has selected to be part of a control group a portion of the amount of child support received by the department under an assignment by the individual under s. 49.145 (2) (s).

49.1455 History History: 1997 a. 27.

49.146 49.146 Employer criteria. The department shall establish by rule criteria that an employer providing a Wisconsin works employment position must meet in order to employ a participant under s. 49.147 (3) to (5). An employer that does not meet the criteria established under this section is ineligible to receive any subsidy for any position provided to a participant.

49.146 History History: 1995 a. 289.

49.146 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. DCF 101.14, Wis. adm. code.

49.147 49.147 Wisconsin works; work programs and job access loans.

49.147(1) (1) Definition. In this section, “unsubsidized employment” means employment, including self-employment and entrepreneurial activities, for which the employer receives no wage subsidy.

49.147(1m) (1m) Educational needs assessment.

49.147(1m)(a) (a) A Wisconsin Works agency shall conduct an educational needs assessment of each individual who applies for a Wisconsin Works employment position. If the individual and the Wisconsin Works agency determine that the individual needs, or would benefit from, education or training activities, including a course of study meeting the standards established under s. 115.29 (4) (a) for the granting of a declaration of equivalency of high school graduation, and if the Wisconsin Works agency determines that the individual is eligible for a Wisconsin Works employment position, the Wisconsin Works agency shall include education or training activities in any employability plan developed for the individual.

49.147(1m)(b) (b) If the Wisconsin Works agency determines that the appropriate placement for an individual is in unsubsidized employment or a trial employment match program job and that the individual needs and wishes to pursue basic education, including a course of study meeting the standards established under s. 115.29 (4) (a) for the granting of a declaration of equivalency of high school graduation, the Wisconsin Works agency shall pay for the basic education services identified in the employability plan developed for the individual.

49.147(2) (2) Unsubsidized employment.

49.147(2)(a) (a) Job search, orientation and training activities.

49.147(2)(a)1. 1. An individual who applies for a Wisconsin Works employment position may be required by the Wisconsin Works agency to search for unsubsidized employment during the period that his or her application is being processed as a condition of eligibility. A participant in a Wisconsin Works employment position or who is receiving case management services under par. (am) shall search for unsubsidized employment throughout his or her participation. The department shall define by rule satisfactory search efforts for unsubsidized employment.

49.147(2)(a)2. 2. A Wisconsin Works agency may require an applicant for a Wisconsin Works employment position to participate in job orientation during the period that his or her application is being processed as a condition of eligibility. A Wisconsin Works agency may require a participant in a Wisconsin Works employment position or who is receiving case management services under par. (am) to engage in training activities in accordance with rules promulgated by the department as part of the participant’s participation requirements.

49.147(2)(am) (am) Case management services.

49.147(2)(am)1. 1. In lieu of placing the individual in a Wisconsin Works employment position under subs. (3) to (5), a Wisconsin Works agency may provide case management services, which may include those services specified in s. 49.1475, to an individual who applies for a Wisconsin Works employment position if the Wisconsin Works agency determines all of the following:

49.147(2)(am)1.a. a. The individual meets the eligibility requirements under s. 49.145 (2) and (3).

49.147(2)(am)1.b. b. The individual is willing to work and has no barriers to employment that cannot be addressed with Wisconsin Works services.

49.147(2)(am)1.c. c. The individual is job-ready, based on the individual’s employment history or education.

49.147(2)(am)1.d. d. The most appropriate placement for the individual is in unsubsidized employment.

49.147(2)(am)2. 2. A Wisconsin Works agency shall, every 30 days, review the provision of case management services to an individual under this paragraph, if the individual is not successful in obtaining unsubsidized employment after legitimate efforts to secure employment, to determine whether the individual should be placed in a trial employment match program job, community service job, or transitional placement. The department shall promulgate rules that specify the criteria for the review process under this subdivision.