Division of Family and Economic Security, Bureau of Working Families

Wisconsin Works (W-2) Manual

15.3.1 Child Support Cooperation with the CSA

In order to be eligible for W-2W-2Wisconsin Works services or a JALJALJob Access Loan, all parents in the W-2 GroupAn adult custodial parent, all dependent children with respect to whom the individual is a legal custodial parent and all minor children with respect to whom the adult individual’s dependent child is a custodial parent. W-2 Group includes any non-marital co-parent or any spouse of the individual who resides in the same household as the individual and any minor children with respect to whom the spouse or non-marital co-parent is a custodial parent. W-2 Group does not include any person who is receiving cash benefits under a county relief block grant program. This is also referred to as the W-2 Assistance Group (W-2 AG) must fully cooperate with the Child Support Agency in relation to all children for whom the parent is a custodial parent or a noncustodial parent.

The CSACSAChild Support Agency determines whether a parent is cooperating with the CSA for:

  • Paternity establishment;
  • Support order establishment; and
  • Child support enforcement.

Note: A parent can be both a custodial parent and a noncustodial parent if the parent does not have custody of all of their children.

Once W-2 eligibility is determined, child support cooperation must continue in order for the W-2 Group to maintain eligibility unless there is a current exemption or good cause for noncooperation. (See 15.5 and 15.6)

The W-2 agency must consider a parent to be cooperative with child support if there is an open child support case for the child in question and there is no indicator of noncooperation from the CSA.

15.3.1.1 CSA Noncooperation Determination

When the CSA determines that a parent is not cooperating, the CSA:

  • Alerts the W-2 worker via CARESCARESClient Assistance for Reemployment and Economic Support from KIDSKIDSKids Information Data System regarding the CSA’s determination of the parent’s noncooperation with child support; and
  • Notifies the parent regarding the CSA’s determination of noncooperation with child support via a KIDS generated letter.