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Wisconsin Department of Children and Families Wisconsin Works (W-2) Manual |
17.2.3.1 Budgeting and Financial Counseling
The FEP must use the Monthly Budget page in BRITS as a tool to create a monthly budget to establish if the applicant is able to repay the JAL in cash.
The FEP must complete the monthly budget in conversation with all JAL applicants during the interactive application process. The FEP must discuss with the applicant their household monthly budget of income, using any active income, passive income, savings, and/or prospective income, and must discuss expense amounts provided by the JAL applicant and update the Monthly Budget page in BRITS.
The Net Monthly Income field will populate based on income and expense entries and must yield a positive number to demonstrate the applicant’s ability to repay the loan in cash.
EXAMPLE: Bellamy is a parent enrolled in W-2 and is in a CSJ placement. Bellamy has a successful interview for a full-time job with wages of $16 per hour. Both Bellamy and the FEP believe Bellamy will be offered the job. Bellamy requests a JAL to repair her car to be able to reliably get to work. The FEP completes the Monthly Budget page in BRITS which reflects prospective monthly income of $2,752 ($16/hour x 40hours/week = $640, $640 x 4.3 weeks/month = $2,752). Because Bellamy expects to be hired for a new job and start work, the FEP overrides the expected W-2 Benefit income of $653 for CSJ and enters $50 to reflect a CMF+ supplemental payment as the W-2 Benefit in anticipation of Bellamy getting the new job and changing placements. Bellamy also receives $250 of FoodShare which is reported as income. Bellamy’s total monthly income is $3,052 ($2,752 + $50 + $250 = $3,052). Bellamy’s expenses include $100 each month for transportation, $230 each month for food expenses, $160 each month towards utilities, and $900 each month towards rent. Her total monthly expenses are $1,390. BRITS populates a positive number of $1,662 ($3,052 - $1,390 = $1,662) in the Net Monthly Income field, demonstrating Bellamy’s income is greater than her expenses and she will be able to repay the JAL. The FEP enters a BRITS comment at the end of the interactive interview in BRITS, before generating the JAL Combined Application and Repayment Agreement form (2482), describing that prospective income was budgeted to align with the job Bellamy anticipates getting and as a result $50 was reported for the W-2 Benefit as she would be moved into CMF+ upon beginning the new job. |
17.2.3.1 Budgeting and Financial Counseling
When a JAL recipient is interested, the W-2 agency must offer budgeting classes or to arrange financial counseling from an external provider.
Formal budgeting classes may be helpful for clients with large loans or for JAL recipients with a history of difficulty budgeting.
History: Release 25-03; Release 24-13; Release 24-10.