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Wisconsin Department of Children and Families Transitional Jobs and Transform Milwaukee Jobs Manual |
2.3.1.1 Counting Annual Income
2.3.1.2 Disregarding Annual Income
2.3.2 Providing a Social Security Number
Contractors must verify eligibility information provided by an applicant to determine whether the applicant qualifies for, or remains eligible for, the Program. The chart below provides a list of suggested sources of verification. Contractors must seek further verification if there is other information that casts doubt on verbal or written, signed statements provided for verification.
Eligibility Criteria |
Suggested Source of Verification |
| Birth Date
(verify birth date only once) |
Certified copy of Birth Certificate (must be marked “For Administrative Use”) Hospital Birth Record Driver’s License State-Issued ID Card US Passport Certificate of Naturalization (must be marked “For Administrative Use”) Certificate of Citizenship (must be marked “For Administrative Use”) Native American ID Card or other tribal membership documentation issued by a Federally recognized tribe CARES birth query (Wisconsin Births only) Any unexpired immigration document Any official form of identification containing a date of birth. |
| Relative and primary caregiver | Adoption records Court order CARES relationships query Any official record indicating the caregiver relationship including indicating that a minor child is both a relative of and living with the applicant |
| Child | Certified copy of Birth Certificate (must be marked “For Administrative Use”) Adoption records Child Support documents CARES relationships query Hospital Birth Record Any official record indicating parental relationships including indicating that a minor child is both a relative of and living with the applicant |
Household size |
Tax documents Verified income records from other income maintenance programs Check stubs from all sources of household income Written statement signed by the applicant provides acceptable verification when there is no annual household income to count |
| Low income (see 2.3.1) | Tax documents Verified income records from other income maintenance programs Check stubs from all sources of household income Written statement signed by the applicant provides acceptable verification when there is no annual household income to count |
| Unemployed for four weeks | Employment Verification Form (EVFE) Written statement signed by the most recent employer indicating the last day of employment Data Exchange unemployment query Written statement signed by the applicant indicating the last day of employment |
| Ineligible for unemployment insurance | Data Exchange unemployment query Unemployment Insurance verbal or written verification of ineligibility to receive UI benefits Written statement signed by the applicant indicating their lack of recent work history |
| Not receiving W-2 | CARES Participation History query |
| Not worked in the Program for 1,040 hours | CARES Supportive Services query (WPSS) |
| Subject to child support | Child support documents Child support case number (or KIDS PIN if in Wisconsin) Verbal or written verification by the local child support agency |
| Under a reunification plan | Child welfare documents with family reunification plan and dates Verbal or written verification by the local child welfare agency |
| Ex-offender status | Circuit court records Criminal Information Bureau records Incarceration release documents Statement from probation officer Statement by the applicant indicating ex-offender status |
| Foster care status | eWiSACWIS query Verbal or written verification by the local child welfare agency or independent living agency |
| U.S. Citizenship
(verify citizenship only once) |
Follow verification instructions on I-9 form which can be accessed by the following link: http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-9.pdf |
| Qualifying Non-citizen status | Any document found in the Non-Citizen Eligibility Desk Guide |
| Residency | Lease Utility bill Any official mail containing the applicant’s name and address Written statement indicating the address and signed by the individual whom the applicant resides with |
| Social Security Number
(SSN)
(verify SSN only once) |
Data Exchange verifying verbal statement of individual's SSN Social Security Card Pay stub displaying the Social Security number W-2 Tax Form displaying the Social Security number Other reliable documents displaying both the name and SSN |
| Application for SSN
(verify only if individual does not have SSN) |
Form SS-5, Application for Social Security number SSA Document (e.g. receipt for SSN Application) Other Written Statement or Agency Form stating that the individual has applied for an SSN Oral statement from representatives of other state agencies, hospital staff, or other third parties verifying that a record exists of the individual's application for an SSN |
Identity (verify identify only once) |
Driver’s License State Issued ID Card Student ID Card US Government ID Card Military ID Card Native American ID Card or other tribal membership documentation issued by a Federally recognized tribe Any photo ID document issued by USCIS US Passport Any unexpired immigration document Any other reliable document that verifies identity |
To be eligible for the Program, an applicant must be low-income. Low-income is defined as having an annual household income that falls below 150% of the federal poverty level (FPL) for the household size.
Household size includes:
The applicant;
All dependent minor children for whom the applicant is a legal custodial parent;
All minor children for whom the adult applicant’s dependent child is a custodial parent;
A co-parent when the applicant and co-parent are not married to each other;
A spouse of the applicant who resides in the same household as the applicant;
Any minor children for whom the spouse or co-parent is a custodial parent; and
All minor children who are not the children of the applicant but for whom the relationship is established by blood, marriage, or legal adoption even if the marriage is terminated by death or divorce.
EXAMPLE: Andre is 26 years old and cares for his two-year old nephew, Julius. The Contractor verifies that the mother’s parental rights to Julius were terminated and that Andre is the primary caregiver. Andre’s household size is two.
Contractors must collect information verifying the household size. The individual’s statement of household size and any available supporting documentation provides sufficient verification of household size.
Household income is determined by adding all the counted annual income for every adult included in the household, as defined by household size.
If the total countable income (See 2.3.1.1) of the household at application is less than 150% of the FPL for the size of the household, the applicant may be considered for the Program.
See 2.3.1.2 for income that is disregarded.
The FPL changes in February of each year. These figures were effective February 3, 2024.
Household Size |
150% Annual FPL |
Monthly 150% FPL |
1 |
$22,590.00 |
$1,882.50 |
2 |
$30,660.00 |
$2,555.00 |
3 |
$38,730.00 |
$3,227.50 |
4 |
$46,800.00 |
$3,900.00 |
5 |
$54,870.00 |
$4,572.50 |
6 |
$62,940.00 |
$5,245.00 |
7 |
$71,010.00 |
$5,917.50 |
8 |
$79,080.00 |
$6,590.00 |
9 |
$87,150.00 |
$7,262.5 |
10 |
$95,220.00 |
$7,935.00 |
11 |
$103,290.00 |
$8,607.50 |
12 |
$111,360.00 |
$9,280.00 |
13 |
$119,430.00 |
$9,952.50 |
14 |
$127,500.00 |
$10,625.00 |
15 |
$135,570.00 |
$11,297.50 |
16 |
$143,640.00 |
$11,970.00 |
17 |
$151,710.00 |
$12,642.50 |
18 |
$159,780.00 |
$13,315.00 |
19 |
$167,850.00 |
$13,987.50 |
20 |
$175,920.00 |
$14,660.00 |
21 |
$183,990.00 |
$15,332.50 |
22 |
$192,060.00 |
$16,005.00 |
23 |
$200,130.00 |
$16,677.50 |
24 |
$208,200.00 |
$17,350.00 |
Each Additional Person Add |
$672.50 |
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2.3.1.1 Counting Annual Income
Contractors must count all earned and unearned income of all adult household members when determining the 150% FPL test unless specifically disregarded (see 2.3.1.2).
Farm and Self-Employment Income:
Count the gross receipts from farm and self-employment businesses. Gross receipts must not be adjusted based on expenses.
Calculate using IRS tax forms completed for the previous year or, if tax forms were not completed for the previous year, use average monthly anticipated earnings.
Supplemental Security Income, Caretaker Supplement, and Kinship Care Income.
Contractors have the discretion to determine what constitutes acceptable verification of each income type.
2.3.1.2 Disregarding Annual Income
Contractors must disregard the following income:
Income from any subsidized employment program;
Child support, maintenance and family support (combination of child support and maintenance) including child support arrears payments;
Earned Income Tax Credit;
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (PL 93-112): Disregard wages, allowances or reimbursements for transportation or personal assistance services costs paid to reasonably accommodate a transitional worker, such as a vehicle modification made to accommodate a disability or a payment by the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation to support a rehabilitation plan;
Income of a dependent child;
Reverse mortgage loan proceeds: (1993 Wisconsin Act 88);
In-kind income: Any gain or benefit that is not in the form of money paid directly to the household such as, meals, clothing, housing and garden produce;
Vendor Payments: Payments made on behalf of the household by a third party to another source, such as rent paid by a community organization on the household’s behalf;
Foster care payments;
Federally funded benefits: Any income or resources distributed under the federal laws listed in W-2 Manual, Chapter 3;
AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteers In Service to America income unless the VISTA contractor director verifies that volunteers are receiving the equivalent of minimum wage;
Indian Tribal Judgment Funds Use or Distribution Act (PL 93-134): Count per capita shares in excess of $2,000 and income above $2,000 per year; and
Loans.
2.3.2 Providing a Social Security Number
Every applicant for the Program must provide a Social Security Number (SSN) as a condition of eligibility. If the applicant does not have an SSN, the applicant must provide proof that he or she has applied for an SSN.
An individual is initially exempt from providing an SSN or proof of application for an SSN if the individual meets each of the following characteristics: (1) Does not have an SSN, (2) Does not have work authorization, and (3) Is a member of one of the following qualified non-citizen groups:
1. Cuban/Haitian entrants, as defined in section 501(e) of the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980; or
2. Certified, foreign-born victims of trafficking; or
3. Parolees (alien paroled into the U.S. for at least one year under section 212(d)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act); or
4. Certain battered aliens who meet the requirements of 8 USC 1641(c); or
5. Any qualified non-citizen who cannot apply for an SSN until their immigration status paperwork has been revised.
An individual who is initially exempt must continue to complete the necessary steps for obtaining an SSN in order to remain eligible for the Program.
History: Release 24-01.