Division of Family and Economic Security, Bureau of Working Families

Emergency Assistance Manual

5.2.3 Multiple Payments

The W-2W-2Wisconsin Works agency may issue more than one payment only if the EAEAEmergency Assistance Group: 

  1. Is experiencing multiple emergencies (see 5.2.3.1); or 
  2. Discovers additional eligible expenses after the first payment is issued (see 5.2.3.2).  

5.2.3.1 Multiple Payments to Address Multiple Emergencies

When the applicant lists more than one emergency type on the application, the EA worker must identify the maximum payment amount for each emergency type (see 5.2.1) and use the higher amount as the overall maximum payment amount for the EA Group. Additionally:

  • The combined total amount of all payments cannot exceed the overall maximum payment amount; 
  • Each payment cannot exceed the maximum payment amount per emergency type; and
  • All payments must be issued within 30 calendar days of the application date. 

EXAMPLE: An EA Group with three members is experiencing an energy crisis and impending homelessness. The agency has determined the group is eligible for EA under both emergency types. The overall maximum payment amount for the EA Group is $1,200 since the maximum amount for impending homelessness is higher than for an energy crisis. In this situation, the W-2 agency may issue one payment towards the energy emergency (up to $750) and one payment towards the housing emergency, as long as the combined total amount of the payments does not exceed $1,200.

5.2.3.2 Multiple Payments to Address Additional Expenses

When an EA group receives a payment and later discovers additional eligible expenses related to the same emergency type, the agency may issue an additional payment(s) as long as:

  1. The combined total amount of the payments does not exceed the maximum payment amount for the emergency; and
  2. All payments are issued within 30 calendar days of the application date. 

EXAMPLE: Anna and Peter have two children. After a fire in their home, they applied for EA on September 9 and received a payment of $400 on September 13. On September 20, Anna and Peter discovered additional eligible expenses totaling $100 that resulted from the fire. Because they had not already received the maximum payment amount of $1,200 for a household of four, Anna and Peter may receive an additional payment to cover the additional expenses as long as the payment is issued by October 9 (within 30 calendar days of the application date).