Division of Family and Economic Security, Bureau of Working Families

Wisconsin Works (W-2) Manual

11.3.1 Good Cause Overview

  1. CSJCSJCommunity Service Job and W-2 TW-2 TW-2 Transition participants must participate in all assigned work training activities or education and training activities outlined in the EPEPEmployability Plan.

  2. When a participant is unable to attend an assigned activity, good cause can be used to excuse the absence and prevent a sanction for nonparticipation or noncooperation.

  3. To be eligible for good cause for a missed assigned activity, the participant must notify and provide an explanation to their FEPFEPFinancial and Employment Planner of the reason within seven working days following the absence.

  4. The FEP must then use the good cause criteria (See 11.3.2) to determine whether a participant absence qualifies as good cause.

  5. The following table provides a brief overview of key good cause terms and definitions. For more detailed information, see the relevant W-2 manual section column in the table.

Good Cause Definition  and Terms

Explanation

Relevant Manual Section

Participant’s responsibility to notify

When a participant misses an assigned W-2 activity, the participant must notify and provide an explanation to their FEP of the reason within seven working days following the absence to prevent a payment reduction.

11.2.1

When to use the good cause criteria

Anytime a FEP is working with a participant with a missed assigned activity, the FEP must:

  1. Consider any hardships the participant may face that make completing activities or notifying the agency of missed activities more difficult, e.g., phone availability, reliable transportation, etc.; and

  2. Make a good cause determination using the following criteria;

    • The participant’s explanation or written verification of the absence; and

    • Allowable good cause reasons.

11.3.2

11.3.3

When to verify good cause with written verification

The FEP must only request written verification of good cause when:

  1. A pattern of absences exists; and

  2. The FEP does not believe that a reasonable explanation has been given for the absences or the FEP believes that the participant is misusing the good cause policy.

11.3.4

Definition of a pattern of absences

A pattern of absences is defined as absences that:

  1. Extend beyond three consecutive working days; or

  2. Are more than five working days in a rolling 30 calendar day period.

11.3.4.1