Division of Family and Economic Security, Bureau of Working Families

Wisconsin Works (W-2) Manual

9.3.2 Payment Eligibility and Uses

Payment Eligibility

To be eligible, participants must be:

  • In a CSJCSJCommunity Service Job, CMCCMCCustodial Parent of an Infant, W-2 TW-2 TW-2 Transition, ARPARPAt Risk Pregnancy, or TEMPTEMPTrial Employment Match Program placement;
  • In the period prior to their first scheduled W-2W-2Wisconsin Works payment; and
  • Experiencing a need.

W-2 agencies must determine eligibility during the initial informal assessment. When possible, payments should be used in conjunction with other supports available to participants, including the Emergency Assistance program, but it is not required.

Family stabilization payments do not use a month of TANFTANFTemporary Assistance for Needy Families assistance and do not count as an additional W-2 benefit.

Participants can receive no more than four family stabilization payments within 12 months. Participants can only receive one family stabilization payment per W-2 episode.

Payment Uses

Family Stabilization payments may be used for needs, including, but not limited to:

  • Housing;
  • Food;
  • Work-related expenses;
  • Insurance;
  • Toiletries/household items/diapers;
  • Phone payments;
  • School supplies;
  • Short-term child care;
  • Legal fees, etc.