7.5.1  Noncustodial Parents

7.5.1.1  Noncustodial Parent Eligibility for W-2 Services

7.5.1.2  W-2 Case Management Services for Noncustodial Parents (CMN)

7.5.1.3  Stipends for Noncustodial Parents (TSP)

7.5.1.3.1  Participation Requirements

7.5.1.3.2  Stipend Payments

7.5.1.3.3  Stipend Procedures

7.5.1.4  Children First

The purpose of the W-2Wisconsin Works Case Management for Noncustodial Parents (CMN) and Stipends for Noncustodial Parents (TSP) placements is to provide case management and employment services to help NCPNoncustodial Parents build economic stability and pay child support.

The following table outlines the differences between the CMN and TSP placements including eligibility, employment readiness, and participation requirements.

7.5.1.1  Noncustodial Parents’ Eligibility for W-2 Services

A noncustodial parent may be eligible for W-2 services through a CMNCase Management Noncustodial Parent or TSPStipends for Noncustodial Parents placement when all of the following apply:

1.             The custodial parent is:

a.      Participating in a TMPCustodial Parent Trial Employment Match Program, CSJCommunity Service Job, W-2 TW-2 Transition, or CMJCase Management Job Ready placement;

b.      Receiving a payment in an ARPAt Risk Pregnancy or CMCCustodial Parent of an Infant placement; or

c.       Receiving Wisconsin Shares child care assistance.

Agencies may disclose information to the noncustodial parent about the custodial parent's participation status in W-2 or child care (i.e., not participating in a qualifying program or placement) to explain why the noncustodial parent is not eligible for W-2.

If the FEP receives information indicating that the custodial parent may no longer be enrolled in W-2 or receiving child care, the FEPFinancial and Employment Planner must reverify eligibility. At a minimum, this information must be verified again at the NCP’s six month eligibility review.

2.             The noncustodial parent is subject to a child support order;

3.             The noncustodial parent meets all other financial and nonfinancial eligibility criteria except that the individual is an noncustodial parent (see Chapters 2 and 3); and

4.             The noncustodial parent meets all eligibility criteria defined in DCF 105 including drug screening and subsequent referral to testing or treatment as indicated.

7.5.1.2  W-2 Case Management Services for Noncustodial Parents (CMN)

The W-2 agency may provide the following case management services to individuals in a CMNCase Management Noncustodial Parent placement:

·        Employment Search (ES);

·        Job Retention Services (JR);

·        Career Advancement Services (CR);

·        Education and Training activities, including;

·        Job Skills Training (JS);

·        General Educational Development (GE);

·        High School Equivalency Diploma (HE);

·        Life Skills (LS);

·        Parenting Skills (PA);

·        Other case management activities (See the Activity Codes Appendix for a full list).

7.5.1.3  Stipends for Noncustodial Parents (TSP)

The Stipends for Noncustodial Parents (TSP) placement is available to eligible noncustodial parents who:

·        Are not ready for a TEMPTrial Employment Match Program job (see 7.3) or unsubsidized employment due to lack of work skills or education; or

·        Could benefit from a monetary stipend for participation in W-2 activities that will prepare them for a TEMP job or unsubsidized employment.

7.5.1.3.1  Participation Requirements

To be eligible to receive a stipend, a noncustodial parent in the TSP placement must participate in a minimum of 20 hours per week of education and training activities that prepare them for employment, such as:

·        A course of study meeting the high school graduation equivalency standards established under Wis. Stat. s. 115.29(4);

·        English as a second language courses;

·        Adult basic education courses, including, but not limited to, literacy skills, remedial math, or reading courses; and

·        Short-term job skills training for career-focused training programs such as vocational training classes and pre-vocational or bridge training focused on specific industry sectors.

The W-2 agency may prescribe additional requirements that an NCP must achieve in order to receive a stipend.

7.5.1.3.2  Stipend Payments

The W-2 agency may issue a stipend payment to a noncustodial parent at any point or frequency during the TSP placement based on the current needs of the individual while they are preparing for employment. However, stipend payments must not be based on hours of participation in W-2 activities.

A noncustodial parent may receive stipend payments for a maximum of 16 weeks in a rolling 12-month period. The total stipend payment amount may not exceed $200 per month and should help the noncustodial parent with meeting the costs associated with engaging in W-2 education and training activities.

Stipend payments should not be considered a substitute for other supportive services available to noncustodial parents. W-2 agencies must offer to develop a Supportive Service Plan (see 9.2.1) with the noncustodial parent and work with them to address any barriers to participating in W-2 activities identified in the process.

Note: Stipend payments qualify as Non-Recurrent, Short-term Benefit under the TANF definition of assistance and do not fall under the category of “cash assistance.” NCPs receiving stipends are not subject to the state 48-month lifetime limit.

Placement in TSP on any day of the standard workweek, i.e., Sunday to Saturday, will count as one week. To maximize participation, agencies should place NCPs in a TSP on a Monday or closest day to the start of the week when possible.

W-2 agencies must help NCPs in the TSP placement move to a TEMP job or unsubsidized job as quickly as possible. The stipend ends when the noncustodial parent starts unsubsidized work or enters a TEMP job in a TNPNoncustodial Parent Trial Employment Match Program placement. (See 7.3.1)

7.5.1.3.3  Stipend Procedures

The W-2 agency must develop a standard operating procedure (SOP) for issuing stipends and submit it for approval by the regional DCF contractor staff.

The W-2 agency must:

·        Manually issue stipend payments to eligible noncustodial parents; and

·        Document each payment in PIN comments.

7.5.1.4  Children First

The Children First program provides employment and training services and support to help eligible noncustodial parents increase their involvement in the lives of their child(ren).

Eligibility for Children First is not tied to W-2 eligibility. A noncustodial parent may receive both Children First and W-2 services at the same time.

For more information about the Children First program participation and services, see the DCF Children First webpage.

History: Release 25-04; Release 21-09; Release 21-07; Release 17-01; Release 14-03; Release 14-01.