Wisconsin Works (W-2)
Child Support
Child support payments are critical to the financial independence of single-parent families. W-2 will further improve Wisconsin’s successful track record of child support collection strategies by providing financial and employment planning assistance to unemployed non-custodial parents.
In addition, Wisconsin Works (W-2) families will receive a portion or all of their child support payments dependent on each case situation, providing further incentive to actively participate in collection and enforcement efforts.
Child Support Collections
Wisconsin is a national leader in the collection of child support. In Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2002--the most recent year for which data is available-- Wisconsin ranked fifth in the nation in collections per full-time employee (FTE). Wisconsin's collections for 2002 were $535,614 per FTE. Also, Wisconsin collected more than $6 for every $1 spent for program costs in 2002.
Paternity Establishment (Legal Fatherhood)
If parents are not married, legal fatherhood (paternity) must be determined before a court can order child support. Parents can establish paternity by filing a "Voluntary Paternity Acknowledgement" from with the state. The parents can also make a legal agreement (stipulation) signed by a court, or a court can issue a legal decision on paternity. Genetic testing can be done if there are doubts about paternity. For more information on What Mothers Should Know about paternity click here. Or for more information on What Fathers Should Know about paternity click here.
Payments
Under Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), child support payments were used to offset the costs of AFDC. Under W-2, custodial parents have the responsibility for providing for their families through work. Depending on each case situation, a portion or the full amount of child support payments are paid to the custodial parent. Custodial parents who refuse to cooperate with child support efforts, unless they have an approved good cause reason, cannot receive benefits under W-2. To learn more about good cause reason, click here.
Children First Program
Children First is a program which promotes the emotional and financial responsibility that a non-custodial parent has towards his or her children. Under the program, delinquent non-custodial parents are required to pay child support, participate in unpaid job training or face court action. Parents who pay child support may be provided job search assistance, job skills training, basic education, or work experience opportunities.
Non-Custodial Parents
Under W-2, non-custodial parents are eligible for certain services, such as job search assistance and case management. In order for non-custodial parents to be eligible for these services, the custodial parent must be in a W-2 employment position and the non-custodial parent must be under a current child support order or in the process of having one established. A non-custodial parent is not eligible to participate in a W-2 employment position or to receive a Job Access Loan.
Child Support Cooperation
All participants are required to, cooperate with the Child Support agency for all programs: W-2, Child Care, FoodShare, and Medicaid, unless a good cause reason exists.
For more information about child support cooperation contact your local child support agency or visit the Bureau of Child Support web site.