Division of Family and Economic Security, Bureau of Working Families

Wisconsin Works (W-2) Manual

15.4.2 W-2 Group with Multiple Child Support Cases

A parent in a 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) may be part of more than one child support case. In these situations, it is possible for the CSACSAChild Support Agency to determine there is cooperation with child support for one of the child support cases and also determine there is noncooperation for the other child support case.

If the W-2W-2Wisconsin Works agency determines a parent in a W-2 Group is not cooperating with child support, and there is no exemption or good cause for the noncooperation, the entire W-2 Group is ineligible for W-2 due to the parent’s noncooperation with child support even if the parent or another parent in the W-2 Group is cooperating with child support.

EXAMPLE: Karina is the custodial parent of her five-year-old daughter, Bella, and the noncustodial parent of her six-year-old daughter, Celeste. Karina and Bella are members of a W-2 Group.

Karina owes past-due child support for when she previously was the noncustodial parent of her daughter, Bella, and also owes current and past-due child support for her daughter, Celeste. The CSA determined Karina is cooperating with child support for her daughter, Bella, and not cooperating for her daughter, Celeste.

The W-2 agency determined there is no exemption or good cause for Karina’s noncooperation. Karina is ineligible for W-2 due to her noncooperation with child support for her daughter, Celeste, even though Celeste is not a member of the W-2 Group and Karina is cooperating with child support for her daughter, Bella.