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SEPARATE STATE PROGRAMS
Wisconsin operates several programs in addition to the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs, but these are programs which are funded exclusively with state funds. These programs serve needy families that are ineligible per TANF restrictions (42 USC 608) and other low income persons. Expenditures under these Separate State Programs will be distinctly tracked in the state’s accounting system and will be counted toward the state’s Maintenance of Effort (MOE) requirement for TANF.
Department of Workforce Development
Student 18 Year Old Assistance (SEA)
This state funded program provides financial assistance to high school students who have been discontinued from Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) due to attaining the age of 18 and who do not qualify as dependent 18-year-olds under the AFDC program. Eligibility determinations and benefit levels are similar to those provided under the AFDC Program. Students who are enrolled in and regularly attending a secondary education program for a high school diploma may continue to receive benefits under this program until they reach their 19th birthday.
Minor Parents Living Independently
Wisconsin currently has a small number of cases under the AFDC program that are headed by minor parents who are not living in adult supervised arrangements. 42 USC 608(a)(5) prohibits a state from using any part of a TANF funded grant to provide assistance to a minor parent not living in an adult supervised living arrangement. Wisconsin will continue to provide financial assistance to these minor-parent families through the phase-out of the AFDC program. In some of these cases, the minor parent will turn 18 years of age prior to the March 31, 1998, AFDC phase-out completion date and be assessed for eligibility for the Wisconsin Works (W-2) program. Cases in which the minor parent will not turn 18 years of age by March 31, 1998, will be advised of their options for continuing assistance in an approved living arrangement. The recommended arrangement would be a return to the residence of a parent or legal guardian. If this arrangement is not in the best interest of the minor parent and/or child, a referral will be made to the county or tribal social/human services agency or other appropriate community based organization for assistance in finding an adult supervised supportive living arrangement.
Minor parents will also be eligible for case management services available from the W-2 agencies. Information will be provided about the availability of other programs and services such as family planning, high school and school to work preparation, employment and financial planning, community resources and eligibility for food stamps, Medical Assistance, and other food and nutrition programs.
Qualified Aliens
The State of Wisconsin provides benefits and services to qualified aliens without regard to the restrictions found under 8 USC 1612 and 1613. Wisconsin Works (W-2) groups whose adult parent or parents are non-citizens lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence, aliens granted asylum under 8 USC 1158, refugees admitted under 8 USC 1187, aliens paroled into the United States under 8 USC 1182 for at least one year, aliens whose deportation is being withheld under 8 USC 1254, and aliens who are granted conditional entry pursuant to 8 USC 1153 as in effect prior to April 1, 1980, will be subject to the same eligibility determination used for citizen applicants for W-2.
Department of Health and Family Services
Tribal Child Care
The Department of Health and Family Services administers the Tribal Child Care Program. The funds are distributed to eleven Wisconsin Indian tribes to provide low-income child care (child care for work activities) or crisis or respite child care in a manner that would be compatible with the federal requirements for use of federal child care and development block grant (CCDBG) funding.
Department of Revenue
Expenditures under the following programs will be counted toward the state’s MOE requirement to the extent they exceed the amounts paid in Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 1995.
Earned Income Credit
Wisconsin provides a state-funded Earned Income Credit (EIC) program to eligible low-income families. The Wisconsin EIC provides a direct benefit to working families with qualifying children. Under the Wisconsin program, persons may be eligible to receive the tax credit if they or their spouse worked full or part time during the tax year, had at least one qualifying child, were a full year resident of Wisconsin, and qualified for the federal EIC. The Wisconsin EIC is 4 percent of the federal EIC amount if the person has one child, 14 percent if the person has two children, and 43 percent if the person has three or more children. To claim the state EIC, an individual must file a state tax return.
Homestead Credit
Wisconsin provides a state-funded Homestead Credit (HC) program to eligible low-income families. The Wisconsin Homestead Credit program provides direct relief to home owners and renters. Under the Wisconsin program, persons may be eligible to receive the credit if they meet the income eligibility requirements (total household income of less than $19,154 in 1996), were 18 years of age or older by the end of the tax (calendar) year, owned or rented the Wisconsin homestead they lived in during the tax year, and were a full year resident of Wisconsin. Persons are not eligible for the Homestead Credit for any months in which they received public assistance (AFDC or W-2). The Homestead Credit is based upon the property taxes paid on the home or the portion of rent that qualifies as property taxes if the individual was a renter.
The base amount used for the MOE calculation matched persons on the AFDC caseload in CY 1994 against the CY 1994 tax year information. Persons eligible for an EIC or HC payment in CY 1994 would be eligible for payment in CY 1995. The base amount was calculated as those payments made from January 1, 1995 to September 30, 1995 for those persons on the caseload in CY 1994. Next, the amount of EIC and HC payments made from January 1, 1997 to September 30, 1997 (for tax year 1996) was calculated for those persons who were on the caseload at any time from CY 1994 to CY 1996. The difference between this amount and the base level will be counted toward the state’s MOE requirement.
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