Chapter 49

49.19(4)(e) (e) The ownership of a home and the lands used or operated in connection therewith or, in lieu thereof, a house trailer, if such home or house trailer is used as the person’s abode, by a person having the care and custody of any dependent child shall not prevent the granting of aid if the cost of maintenance of said home or house trailer does not exceed the rental which the family would be obliged to pay for living quarters.

49.19(4)(es) (es) In determining eligibility for aid to families with dependent children, all earned and unearned income of the applicant shall be considered, except any amount received under section 32 of the internal revenue code, as defined in s. 71.01 (6), and any payment made by an employer under section 3507 of the internal revenue code, as defined in s. 71.01 (6), and aid received under this section. Eligibility does not exist if the total income considered exceeds 185 percent of the standard of need or if the total income considered after disregards are applied exceeds the standard of need.

49.19(4)(et) (et) In determining eligibility for aid, the income of a dependent child’s stepparent who lives in the same home as the child shall be considered as required under 42 USC 602 (a) (31).

49.19(4)(ez) (ez) If an alien applies for aid, the income and resources of any person or public or private agency which executed an affidavit of support for the alien are deemed unearned income and resources of the alien for a 3-year period after the alien enters the United States, unless the department determines that the public or private agency no longer exists or has become unable to meet the alien’s needs. The income and resources of the spouse of the executor, if the executor is an individual, are also deemed unearned income and resources of the alien for a 3-year period after the alien enters the United States, if the spouse is living with the executor. The department may, by rule, specify the method of computing income and resources under this paragraph and may reduce the level of income and resources that are deemed unearned income and resources of the alien, to the extent required by P.L. 97-35, section 2320 (b). This paragraph does not apply if the alien is a dependent child and if the executor or the executor’s spouse is the parent of the alien.

49.19(4)(f) (f) Whenever better provisions, public or private, can be made for the care of such dependent child, aid under this section shall cease. Prompt notice shall be given to the appropriate law enforcement officials of the county of the furnishing of aid under this section in respect of a child who has been deserted or abandoned by a parent.

49.19(4)(g) (g)

49.19(4)(g)1. 1. If the pregnancy is medically verified, a pregnant woman receiving aid under this section who notifies the county department under s. 46.215 or 46.22 before the 8th month of pregnancy begins shall receive a monthly payment determined under sub. (11) (d) from the first day of the month in which the 8th month of pregnancy begins, in addition to the payment determined according to family size under sub. (11). If the recipient provides notification after the 8th month of pregnancy begins, the woman shall receive the additional monthly payment determined under sub. (11) (d) beginning with the first day of the month following notification.

49.19(4)(g)2. 2. Aid to a pregnant woman who is otherwise eligible but has no children is available from the first day of the month in which the 8th month of pregnancy begins or the date the woman submits a signed and completed application for aid to the county department under s. 46.215 or 46.22, whichever is later, if the pregnancy is medically verified. The pregnant woman has a family size of one for grant determination purposes under sub. (11) and is additionally eligible for a monthly payment determined under sub. (11) (d).

49.19(4)(g)3. 3. Eligibility for the additional monthly payment under this paragraph continues through the month of the child’s birth.

49.19(4)(h) (h)

49.19(4)(h)1. 1.

49.19(4)(h)1.a. a. As a condition of eligibility for assistance under this section, the person charged with the care and custody of the dependent child or children shall fully cooperate in efforts directed at establishing the paternity of a nonmarital child and obtaining support payments or any other payments or property to which that person and the dependent child or children may have rights. Such cooperation shall be in accordance with federal law, rules and regulations applicable to paternity establishment and collection of support payments.

49.19(4)(h)1.b. b. Except as provided under sub. (5) (a) 1m., when any person applies for or receives aid under this section, any right of the parent or any dependent child to support or maintenance from any other person, including any right to unpaid amounts accrued at the time of application and any right to amounts accruing during the time aid is paid under this section, is assigned to the state. If a minor who is a beneficiary of aid under this section is also the beneficiary of support under a judgment or order that includes support for one or more children not receiving aid under this section, any support payment made under the judgment or order is assigned to the state in the amount that is the proportionate share of the minor receiving aid under this section, except as otherwise ordered by the court on the motion of a party. Amounts assigned to the state under this subd. 1. b. remain assigned to the state until that amount of aid paid that represents the amount due as support or maintenance has been recovered. No amount of support that begins to accrue after aid under this section is discontinued for the recipient may be considered assigned to this state.

49.19(4)(h)1.c. c. Notice of the requirements of this subdivision shall be provided applicants for aid under this section at the time of application.

49.19(4)(h)2. 2. If the person charged with the care and custody of the dependent child or children does not comply with the requirements of subd. 1. a., that person shall be ineligible for assistance under this section. In such instances, aid payments made on behalf of the dependent child or children shall be made in the form of protective payments. If the county department under s. 46.215 or 46.22 has been unsuccessful in finding a person other than the person charged with the care of the dependent child to receive the protective payment on behalf of the child, after performance of a reasonable effort to do so, the county department may make the payment on behalf of the child to the person charged with the care of the dependent child.

49.19 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. DCF 102, Wis. adm. code.

49.19(4)(k) (k) The total income of the AFDC group, including any nonrecurring lump sum payment of earned or unearned income and any other income not disregarded, may not exceed the applicable standard of need under sub. (11). If the total income exceeds the standard of need, all members of the AFDC group remain ineligible for the number of months that equals the total income divided by the standard of need.

49.19(4e) (4e) 

49.19(4e)(a) (a) If a person applying for aid is under 18 years of age, has never married, and is pregnant or has a dependent child in his or her care, the person is not eligible for aid unless he or she lives in a place maintained by his or her parent, legal guardian, or other adult relative as the parent’s, guardian’s or other adult relative’s own home or lives in a foster home, maternity home, or other supportive living arrangement supervised by an adult.

49.19(4e)(b) (b) Paragraph (a) does not apply in any of the following situations:

49.19(4e)(b)1. 1. The person applying for aid has no parent or legal guardian whose whereabouts are known.

49.19(4e)(b)2. 2. No parent or legal guardian of the person applying for aid allows the person to live in the home of that parent or legal guardian.

49.19(4e)(b)3. 3. The department determines that the physical or emotional health or safety of the person applying for aid or the dependent child would be jeopardized if the person and the dependent child lived with the person’s parent or guardian.

49.19(4e)(b)4. 4. The person applying for aid lived apart from his or her parent or legal guardian for at least one year before the birth of any dependent child or before the person applied for aid.

49.19(4e)(b)5. 5. The county department under s. 46.215, 46.22 or 46.23 otherwise determines that there is good cause not to apply par. (a).

49.19(4e)(c) (c) The department shall request a waiver from the secretary of the federal department of health and human services to require, without exception, that a person applying for aid who is under 18 years of age, has never married and is pregnant or has a dependent child in his or her care meet the requirements of par. (a). If a waiver is granted and in effect, par. (b) does not apply.

49.19(4h) (4h) Student loans and grants, including work study funds, are not considered income in determining eligibility for aid under this section or the amount of monthly payments under this section.

49.19(4m) (4m) Aid under this section is unavailable to a family for any month in which the caretaker relative of the dependent child is participating in a strike on the last day of the month. Aid under this section is unavailable to any person for a month in which the person is participating in a strike on the last day of the month.

49.19(5) (5) 

49.19(5)(a) (a) The aid shall be sufficient to enable the person having the care and custody of dependent children to care properly for them. The amount granted shall be determined by a budget for the family in which all income shall be considered, except:

49.19(5)(a)1. 1. All earned income of each dependent child included in the grant who is: a full-time student; or a part-time student who is not a full-time employee. For purposes of this subdivision a student is an individual attending a school, college, university or a course of vocational or technical training designed to fit him or her for gainful employment.

49.19(5)(a)1e. 1e. Any amount received under section 32 of the internal revenue code, as defined in s. 71.01 (6), and any payment made by an employer under section 3507 of the internal revenue code, as defined in s. 71.01 (6), to a family receiving aid.

49.19(5)(a)1m. 1m. The first $50 of any money received by the department in a month under an assignment to the state under sub. (4) (h) for a person applying for or receiving aid to families with dependent children that shall be paid to the family applying for or receiving aid.

49.19(5)(a)2. 2. The first $90 shall be disregarded from the earned income of:

49.19(5)(a)2.a. a. Any dependent child or relative applying for or receiving aid.

49.19(5)(a)2.b. b. Any other person living in the same home as the dependent child whose needs are considered in determining the budget.

49.19(5)(a)4. 4. Except as provided under par. (am), after disregarding the amounts specified under subd. 2., $30 of earned income and an amount equal to one-third of the remaining earned income not disregarded, from the earned income of any person specified in subd. 2. These disregards do not apply to:

49.19(5)(a)4.a. a. The earned income of a person who has received the disregards for 4 consecutive months, until the person ceases to receive aid for 12 consecutive months.

49.19(5)(a)4.b. b. Earned income derived from a training or retraining project.

49.19(5)(a)4.c. c. The earned income of a person whose income exceeds the person’s need, unless the person has received aid under this section in any of the 4 months preceding the month in which the income exceeds the need.

49.19(5)(a)4m. 4m. Except as provided under par. (am), after the person has received the benefit of the disregards under subd. 4. for 4 consecutive months, a disregard of $30 of earned income shall be available for 8 additional consecutive months. This disregard does not apply to:

49.19(5)(a)4m.a. a. Earned income derived from a training or retraining project.

49.19(5)(a)4m.b. b. The earned income of a person whose income exceeds the person’s need, unless the person has received aid under this section in any of the 4 months preceding the month in which the income exceeds the need.

49.19(5)(a)4s. 4s. After disregarding the amounts under subd. 2. and either subd. 4. or par. (am), an amount equal to expenditures and not to exceed $175 per month for each dependent child or incapacitated person, or $200 per month for each child under the age of 2, shall be disregarded from the earned income of any person listed in subd. 2. if:

49.19(5)(a)4s.a. a. The amount is used to provide care for a dependent child or for an incapacitated person who is living in the same home as the dependent child;

49.19(5)(a)4s.b. b. The person receiving care is also receiving aid under this section; and

49.19(5)(a)4s.c. c. The person requires care during the month that aid is received.

49.19(5)(a)5. 5. The disregards specified in subds. 2. to 4s. and par. (am) do not apply to the earned income of any person who violates 45 CFR 233.20 (a) (11) (iii).

49.19(5)(am) (am)

49.19(5)(am)1. 1. Except as provided under subd. 1m., instead of the disregards under par. (a) 4. and 4m., after disregarding the amounts specified under par. (a) 2., $30 of earned income and an amount equal to one-sixth of the remaining earned income not disregarded shall be disregarded from the earned income of a person specified in par. (a) 2. These disregards do not apply to:

49.19(5)(am)1.a. a. The earned income of a person who has received the disregards for 12 consecutive months, until the person ceases to receive aid for 12 consecutive months.

49.19(5)(am)1.b. b. Earned income derived from a training or retraining project.

49.19(5)(am)1.c. c. The earned income of a person whose income exceeds the person’s need, unless the person has received aid under this section in any of the 4 months preceding the month in which the income exceeds the need.

49.19(5)(am)1m. 1m. If a waiver under subd. 2. is granted, the department may select individuals to whom the disregards under par. (a) 4. and 4m. apply, rather than the disregard under subd. 1., as a control group for all or part of the period during which the waiver is in effect.

49.19(5)(am)2. 2. The department shall request a waiver from the secretary of the federal department of health and human services to permit the application of the earned income disregards in subd. 1. Subdivision 1. does not apply unless a federal waiver is in effect. If a waiver is received, the department shall implement subd. 1. no later than the first day of the 6th month beginning after the waiver is approved.

49.19(5)(as) (as) The department shall request, but may not implement, a waiver from the secretary of the federal department of health and human services to establish an earned income disregard that is equal to the first $200 of earned income plus 50 percent of the remaining earned income, instead of the amount under par. (a) or (am), and that is not reduced after a specified period. The department shall request the waiver no later than September 1, 1992.

49.19(5)(b) (b) Such family budget shall be based on a standard budget, including the parents or other person who may be found eligible to receive aid under this section.

49.19(5)(c) (c) The aid allowed under this subsection may be given in the form of supplies or commodities or vouchers for the same, in lieu of money, as a type of remedial care authorized under sub. (1) (c), whenever the giving of aid in such form is deemed advisable by the director of the county department under s. 46.215, 46.22 or 46.23 dispensing such aid as a means either of attempting to rehabilitate a particular person having the care and custody of any such children or of preventing the misuse or mismanagement by such person of aid in the form of money payments.

49.19(5)(ce) (ce) At the request of a recipient of aid under this section, the department shall provide the portion of the grant equal to the amount of the recipient’s rent to the recipient’s landlord in the form of a rent voucher or by an alternative payment method.

49.19(5)(cm) (cm)

49.19(5)(cm)1. 1. In this paragraph, “direct payment” means a check which is drawn in favor of the landlord of a recipient of aid under this section.

49.19(5)(cm)2. 2. A direct payment shall be made whenever a recipient of aid under this section has failed to pay rent to the landlord for 2 months or more, unless the failure to pay rent is authorized by law.

49.19(5)(cm)3. 3. If a landlord reports to a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22 or 46.23 that a recipient has failed to pay rent for 2 or more months, the county department shall do all of the following:

49.19(5)(cm)3.a. a. Inform the recipient of the report.

49.19(5)(cm)3.b. b. Investigate the report.

49.19(5)(cm)3.c. c. If it determines that the conditions for issuing a direct payment under subd. 2. are met, inform the recipient of the right to a fair hearing on the issue of whether direct payment of rent should be made and inform the department of health services of its determination.

49.19(5)(cm)3.d. d. If it determines that direct payments should not be made, inform the recipient and the landlord of that determination.

49.19(5)(cm)4. 4. When it has been determined that a direct payment of rent should be made, the department of health services shall issue the recipient’s monthly grant in 2 checks, a direct payment for the amount of the rent and a check drawn in favor of the recipient for the balance of the grant amount.

49.19(5)(cm)5. 5. The county department shall review each case in which a direct payment is being made at least once every 12 months and whenever a recipient reports that a condition under subd. 6. for the cessation of direct payments exists.

49.19(5)(cm)6. 6. The county department shall inform the department of health services, and the department of health services shall cease making a direct payment, when the county department determines that any of the following conditions exists:

49.19(5)(cm)6.a. a. A direct payment has been made for 24 consecutive months.

49.19(5)(cm)6.b. b. The recipient has reimbursed the landlord for all back rent owed.

49.19(5)(cm)6.c. c. The recipient has moved and has a different landlord.

49.19(5)(cm)7. 7. The department shall promulgate rules for the administration of this paragraph.

49.19(5)(e) (e) No aid may continue longer than 6 months without reinvestigation, except that the department may provide that in certain cases or groups of cases aid may continue up to 12 months without reinvestigation. The county department under s. 46.215, 46.22 or 46.23 may conduct a reinvestigation of a case whenever there is reason to believe circumstances have changed. The county department shall submit information concerning reinvestigations, at such times and in such form as the department requires.

49.19(5)(f) (f) This subsection does not prohibit such public assistance as may legitimately accrue directly to persons other than the beneficiaries of this section who may reside in the same household.

49.19(6) (6) The county department under s. 46.215, 46.22 or 46.23 may require the child’s parent to do such remunerative work as in its judgment can be done without detriment to the parent’s health or the neglect of the children or the home; and may prescribe the hours during which the parent may be required to work outside of the home.

49.19(7) (7) The county board shall annually appropriate a sum of money sufficient to carry out the provisions of this section. The county treasurer shall pay out the amounts ordered paid under this section.

49.19(9) (9) If the head of a family is a veteran, as defined in s. 45.01 (12), or a person under s. 45.51 (2) (a) 2., and is hospitalized or institutionalized because of disabilities in a county other than that of his or her residence or settlement at time of admission, aid shall be granted to the dependent children of the veteran by the county wherein the head of the family had his or her residence or settlement at the time of admission so long as he or she remains hospitalized or institutionalized.

49.19(10) (10) 

49.19(10)(a) (a) Aid under this section may also be granted to a nonrelative who cares for a child dependent upon the public for proper support in a foster home having a license under s. 48.62, in a foster home located within the boundaries of a federally recognized American Indian reservation in this state and licensed by the tribal governing body of the reservation, or in a group home licensed under s. 48.625, regardless of the cause or prospective period of dependency. The state shall reimburse counties pursuant to the procedure under s. 48.569 (2) and the percentage rate of participation set forth in s. 48.569 (1) (d) for aid granted under this subsection except that if the child does not have legal settlement in the granting county, state reimbursement shall be at 100 percent. The county department under s. 46.215 or 46.22 shall determine the legal settlement of the child. A child under one year of age shall be eligible for aid under this subsection irrespective of any other residence requirement for eligibility within this section.

49.19(10)(b) (b) Aid under this section may also be granted on behalf of a child in the legal custody of a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22 or 46.23 or on behalf of a child who was removed from the home of a relative specified in sub. (1) (a) as a result of a judicial determination that continuance in the home of a relative would be contrary to the child’s welfare for any reason when such child is placed in a licensed residential care center for children and youth by the county department. Reimbursement shall be made by the state pursuant to par. (a).

49.19(10)(c) (c) Reimbursement under par. (a) may also be paid to the county when the child is placed in a licensed foster home, group home, or residential care center for children and youth by a licensed child welfare agency or by a federally recognized American Indian tribal governing body in this state or by its designee, if the child is in the legal custody of the county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, or 46.23 or if the child was removed from the home of a relative specified in sub. (1) (a) as a result of a judicial determination that continuance in the home of the relative would be contrary to the child’s welfare for any reason and the placement is made under an agreement with the county department.

49.19(10)(d) (d) Aid may also be paid under this section to a licensed foster home, group home, or residential care center for children and youth by the state when the child is in the custody or guardianship of the state, when the child is a ward of an American Indian tribal court in this state and the placement is made under an agreement between the department and the tribal governing body, or when the child was part of the state’s direct service case load and was removed from the home of a relative specified in sub. (1) (a) as a result of a judicial determination that continuance in the home of a relative would be contrary to the child’s welfare for any reason and the child is placed by the department or the department of corrections.

49.19(10)(e) (e) Notwithstanding pars. (a), (c), and (d), aid under this section may not be granted for placement of a child in a foster home licensed by a federally recognized American Indian tribal governing body, for placement of a child in a foster home or residential care center for children and youth by a tribal governing body or its designee, for the placement of a child who is a ward of a tribal court if the tribal governing body is receiving or is eligible to receive funds from the federal government for that type of placement, or for placement of a child in a group home licensed under s. 48.625.

49.19(11) (11) 

49.19(11)(am) (am)

49.19(11)(am)1m. 1m. Except as provided in subs. (11m) and (11s), monthly payments made under s. 20.437 (2) (dz) and (md) to persons or to families with dependent children shall be based on family size and shall be at 80 percent of the total of the allowances under pars. (b) and (d) plus the following standards of assistance beginning on September 1, 1987:

49.19(11)(am)2m. 2m. Grants shall vary in 2 areas which shall be groups of counties designated by the department based on variation in shelter cost.