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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 five working days timeframe, the W-2 agency must:
1. Have at least one meeting with the applicant or their representative (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).
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 23-01; Release 22-04..