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Wisconsin Department of Children and Families Wisconsin Works (W-2) Manual |
1.4.1.1 Applying for W-2 and Income Maintenance Programs
Any individual may apply for W-2 online in ACCESS or by contacting their local W-2 agency.
Applicants unable to complete an application in ACCESS, may contact their local W-2 agency to complete the application process. All applicants must complete the W-2 application to be eligible for W-2 services.
Applicants must apply at the W-2 agency that serves the geographical area in which they reside with the following exceptions:
· An applicant who resides in an area served by a W-2 agency that services more than one geographical area may apply at any of that agency’s W-2 offices.
· An applicant who is a victim of domestic abuse may apply at any W-2 agency.
· An applicant who resides in a treatment facility without a primary residence to return to must apply at the W-2 agency that serves the geographical area where the treatment center is located. If the applicant maintains a primary residence and intends to return to it, the applicant must apply at the agency that serves the geographical area in which the primary residence is located.
· An applicant who is homeless may apply in any geographical area, however, agencies should encourage them to apply in the geographical area in which they anticipate finding permanent housing.
W-2 agencies must coordinate with agencies providing Income Maintenance (IM) programs [FoodShare and Medicaid/BadgerCare Plus] to:
1. Ensure services delivered under W-2, FoodShare, and Medicaid/BadgerCare Plus programs are coordinated in a way that effectively serve the recipients of those services (Wis. Stat. s. 49.143(2)(d)); and
2. Ensure procedures are in place to protect the application filing date for FoodShare.
IM Consortia and Tribal IM agencies are encouraged to co-locate staff at the W-2 agency to meet caseload needs and provide access to eligibility determination services for FoodShare and Medicaid/BadgerCare Plus.
If IM Consortia and Tribal IM agencies are not co-located, W-2 agencies must provide individuals who request FoodShare with:
1. A computer and the ACCESS website (access.wi.gov) if the individual wants to apply online.
2. The current agency phone numbers if the individual wants to apply by phone.
· IM agency phone number can be found at http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/forwardhealth/imagency/index.htm.
3. The paper form FoodShare Wisconsin Registration (F-16019A) if the individual does not want to apply online or by phone.
· If the individual opts for the paper FoodShare application, the W-2 agency must fax the completed form using http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/forwardhealth/imagency/index.htm to get the appropriate document processing unit fax number.
History: Release 24-01; Release 20-05; Release 20-03; Release 13-02; Release 12-06.