Division of Family and Economic Security, Bureau of Working Families

Wisconsin Works (W-2) Manual

10.5.2 Protective and Vendor Payments

If mismanagement of funds is a threat to the health and safety of a child in the W-2W-2Wisconsin Works group as determined by the FEPFEPFinancial and Employment Planner, all or part of the CSJCSJCommunity Service Job or W-2 TW-2 TW-2 Transition payment may be a:

  • Protective payment;
  • Vendor PaymentPayment made on behalf of the household by a third party to another source; or
  • Combination of a direct payment, protective payment, and/or vendor payment.

The agency must investigate reports of mismanagement before initiating protective or vendor payments.

The W-2 agency must document in the case record the:

  • Reason for the authorization of protective or vendor payments;
  • Name of the eligible participant;
  • Name of the protective or vendor payee; and
  • Amount and form of payment authorized.

Participants may voluntarily choose to receive all or part of the CSJ or W-2 T payment as a protective payment or vendor payment, without being subject to an investigation by a FEP into the participant’s use of funds.