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Wisconsin Department of Children and Families Emergency Assistance Manual |
The first step in processing the EA application is determining eligibility. To determine eligibility within the ten working days timeframe, the W-2 agency must:
1. Have at least one meeting with the applicant or their representative, scheduled to occur during the first five working days of the ten working days timeframe (see 1.3.2.1);
2. Determine nonfinancial eligibility (see Chapter 2);
3. Determine financial eligibility (see Chapter 3); and
4. Request and complete all necessary information and verification (see Chapter 4).
The required meeting with the EA worker must be scheduled to take place during the first five working days of the ten working days eligibility timeframe. If the applicant requires a later date due to their availability, the meeting can be scheduled after day five. Rationale must be documented in EA Comments for any initially scheduled meetings after day five.
Agencies must maintain their client scheduling availability in CWW for at least five working days into the future. The number of appointments available must be consistent with the average number of ACCESS applications. Before submitting an EA application in ACCESS, applicants will be given the option of selecting from available phone appointment times to meet with an EA worker.
The EA worker must meet with the applicant during their scheduled appointment time. If an ACCESS applicant does not schedule an interview appointment, agencies must contact the applicant within one working day of the application date to continue the application process.
In the event an applicant misses their scheduled appointment, agencies must contact the applicant. Contact attempts must be varied, including phone calls, e-mail, text message, etc. over several days. Contact attempts with the applicant must be clearly documented and detailed specifically in EA comments.
The required meeting with an applicant can be conducted in one of three ways below. W-2 agencies must provide the option to meet in whichever acceptable meeting format the applicant prefers.
1. In-person: The applicant meets physically in-person with an EA worker.
2. Video call: The applicant and EA worker use a video platform to meet where each person can see and hear one another.
3. Telephonically: The applicant and EA worker use a telephone to meet.
EA workers must document in EA comments which meeting format was used.
History: Release 24-03; Release 23-01; Release 22-04..