|
Wisconsin Department of Children and Families Wisconsin Works (W-2) Manual |
Once eligible for W-2, if the W-2 Group’s assets are expected to exceed $2,500 for at least two consecutive months, the group becomes ineligible for W-2. Participants must report any change in assets within 10 calendar days of the occurrence.
The FEP must enter only changes in assets over $100 when notified. At review, the FEP must incorporate all reported changes in assets regardless of amount.
EXAMPLE 1: Maya’s father dies and he leaves her his car. The Equity Value of the car is $13,000. Maya intends to keep the car. While $10,000 of the equity value is disregarded, the remaining $3,000 equity value puts Maya $500 over the $2,500 asset limit. Maya reports taking possession of the car on February 10th. When Maya’s worker runs eligibility on February 10th, Maya fails the W-2 asset test for the months of March and April and Maya’s case will close effective February 28th.
EXAMPLE 2: Carolyn received her tax refund of $2,505 on April 16th. She expects to use most of the money to pay past bills and other living expenses. She may continue in her CMU placement as it is not expected that her assets will remain over the $2,500 limit for two consecutive months. The agency may ask Carolyn to send in her bank statement both months to check if she is over the asset limit for two consecutive months.
EXAMPLE 3: Amy is participating in a (CSJ) placement and is taking classes to become a childcare provider. She wants to start a childcare program in her neighborhood but does not have the start-up money. She starts a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds. Her goal is to raise at least $4,000. She informs her FEP on January 6, that she has started a crowdfunding account, and calls her FEP each week the account gains $100 or more to report the amount. By February 1, she raises $1,836. Amy’s FEP counts the $1,836 as a liquid asset in CWW for February, and Amy remains under the asset limit. The crowdfunding account continues to grow and generates $2,743 by March 1. This puts Amy over the asset limit for March. Amy’s FEP must continue to review her financial eligibility to determine if she remains under the income and asset limits. If Amy’s crowdfunding account has the same amount or more by April 1, Amy would be ineligible for W-2 in May because she would be over the asset limit for two consecutive calendar months (March and April). If the FEP determines that she is over the asset limit, Amy’s case would close on April 30.
History: Release 23-07.