Division of Family and Economic Security, Bureau of Working Families

Wisconsin Works (W-2) Manual

7.2.1 Unpaid Placements

The W-2W-2Wisconsin Works program is designed to help individuals prepare for and achieve unsubsidized employment. Ideally, all W-2 participants end up in a placement related to unsubsidized employment.

The following case management placements are related to unsubsidized employment:

  • CMUCMUCase Management Underemployed – For individuals who are employed when they apply for W-2 (see 7.2.2);
  • CMFCMFCase Management Follow-Up or CMF+CMF+Case Management Follow-Up Plus – For participants who obtain unsubsidized employment while in a W-2 placement or through up-front job search (see 7.2.3); and
  • CMJCMJCase Management Job Ready – For individuals who are unemployed but are ready for unsubsidized employment (see 7.2.4).

Participants in these placements receive case management services but do not receive a monthly W-2 cash payment, with the exception of the CMF+ supplemental payment.

Time in a case management placement does not count toward the:

  • 60-month federal TANFTANFTemporary Assistance for Needy Families lifetime limit; or
  • 48-month state lifetime limit.

Participants in a CMU, CMF, CMF+, or CMJ placement are required to cooperate with child support as a condition of eligibility. (See 15.3.1) However, they are not required to assign a portion of the child support payments to the state. (See 15.1.1)