DCF 120.05(4) (4) Eligibility due to energy crisis. An emergency assistance group is eligible for assistance due to an energy crisis if all of the following apply:

DCF 120.05(4)(a) (a) The group has exhausted resources available through the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program, assistance available through a local utility company as required by the public service commission, and any other available energy resources. In this paragraph, “exhausted resources” means either that the group has been denied services from the other sources or other funding sources do not cover the full cost of the group’s energy crisis.

DCF 120.05(4)(b) (b) The group needs financial assistance to obtain or maintain heat, electricity, water, or sewer service provided by a utility company.

DCF 120.05(4)(c) (c) The lack of, or imminent lack of, utility service providing heat, electricity, water, or sewer is or is likely to be an immediate threat to the health or safety of the group.

DCF 120.05(4)(d) (d) The energy crisis is due to reasons beyond the control of adult members of the group or constitute good cause as determined by the W-2 agency.

DCF 120.05 Note Note: For more information on the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP), call 1-866-HEATWIS (1-866-432-8947) or click on “where to apply” at http://www.homeenergyplus.wi.gov/. For more information on utility assistance required by the Public Service Commission, see PSC 113, PSC 134, and PSC 185. For concerns about utility service, contact the Public Service Commission at 1-800-225-7729 or the “contact us” section of http://psc.wi.gov.

DCF 120.05 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1999, No. 526, eff. 11-1-99; cr. (1) (em), (f) 5., and (3), renum. (1) (f) 5. to be (1) (f) 6., Register, January, 2001, No. 541, eff. 2-1-01; correction in (1) (b) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register November 2008 No. 635; EmR0906: emerg. am. (1) (f) 6. and (3), cr. (3) (b) and (4), eff. 4-22-09; CR 09-059: am. (1) (f) 6., (2) (c) and (3), cr. (3) (b) to (d) and (4) Register December 2009 No. 648, eff. 1-1-10; CR 08-068: am. (1) (c) Register May 2010 No. 653, eff. 6-1-10; correction in (4) (intro.) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register September 2024 No. 825.

DCF 120.06 DCF 120.06 Financial eligibility. To be eligible for emergency assistance, all of the following conditions shall be met:

DCF 120.06(1) (1) Income. The gross income of the emergency assistance group may not exceed 115% of the poverty line. The agency shall determine the amount of income available to the group in accordance with s. DCF 101.09 (4) except any of the following grants received in the month of the emergency is not counted:

DCF 120.06(1)(a) (a) Kinship care payments under s. 48.57 (3m) or (3n), Stats.

DCF 120.06(1)(b) (b) Foster care payments under s. 48.62, Stats., if the payment is on behalf of a child who is a relative.

DCF 120.06(2) (2) Assets. The assets of the emergency assistance group may not exceed $2,500 in combined equity value. In determining the combined equity value of assets under this subsection, the agency shall exclude all of the following:

DCF 120.06(2)(a) (a) The equity value of vehicles up to a total equity value of $10,000. In this paragraph, “equity value of vehicles” means the trade-in value of the vehicles as given in a standard guide on motor vehicle values or as estimated by a sales representative at a local car dealership, minus any debts secured by the vehicles.

DCF 120.06(2)(b) (b) One home that serves as the homestead for the emergency assistance group.

DCF 120.06 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1999, No. 526, eff. 11-1-99; corrections in (3) (intro.) and (4) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register November 2008 No. 635; CR 09-059: r. and recr. Register December 2009 No. 648, eff. 1-1-10; CR 21-090: am. (1), renum. (2) to (2) (intro.) and am., cr. (2) (a), (b) Register July 2022 No. 799, eff. 8-1-22.

DCF 120.07 DCF 120.07 Payment amounts.

DCF 120.07(1) (1) An emergency assistance payment for impending homelessness, homelessness, fire, flood, or natural disaster, the emergency assistance payment shall be the lowest of the following 2 amounts:

DCF 120.07(1)(a) (a) The total of the maximum payment amount per group member for that group size multiplied by the number of members in the emergency assistance group.

DCF 120.07 Note Note: The maximum payment amount per group member for impending homelessness, homelessness, fire, flood, or natural disaster is the following:

DCF 120.07 Note $600 per group member when the group is 2 members.

DCF 120.07 Note $400 per group member when the group is 3 members.

DCF 120.07 Note $300 per group member when the group is 4 members.

DCF 120.07 Note $240 per group member when the group is 5 members.

DCF 120.07 Note $220 per group member when the group is 6 or more members.

DCF 120.07 Note Changes to the maximum payment amounts will be announced in the Administrative Register.

DCF 120.07(1)(b) (b) The total financial need due to the emergency, as follows:

DCF 120.07(1)(b)1. 1. The financial need due to impending homelessness shall be unpaid rent and related late fees and court costs.

DCF 120.07(1)(b)2. 2. The financial need due to homelessness shall be the first month’s rent, security deposit, and necessary household items.

DCF 120.07(1)(b)3. 3. The financial need due to fire, flood, or natural disaster shall be the total need in all of the following: