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Wisconsin Department of Children and Families Wisconsin Works (W-2) Manual |
18.3.6.1 RMA Eligibility Verification Requirements
18.3.6.1.2 Information Requiring Eligibility Verification
18.3.6.1.3 Requesting Verification from RMA Participants
18.3.6.5 Manual Eligibility Determinations and RMA Benefit Issuance
The W-2 agency must verify financial and nonfinancial information provided by the members of the RMA assistance group to determine whether the group qualifies for RMA.
When verifying information for the RMA program, apply the following guidelines:
· Only verify items necessary to determine eligibility for RMA;
· Do not verify information already verified unless you believe the information is fraudulent or differs from more recent information;
· Do not exclusively require a particular type of verification when various types are possible; and
· Do not target special groups on the basis of race, religion, national origin, etc for special verification requirements.
Refer to Medicaid Eligibility Handbook 20.3.1 for a list of items that must be verified for the Medicaid program; these items, where applicable, must also be verified for the RMA program.
The worker has a responsibility to use all available data exchanges to verify information, but the applicant has primary responsibility for providing verification. Do not deny RMA eligibility when the applicant does not have the ability to produce verification. Assist the applicant in obtaining verification if he or she has difficulty in obtaining it.
Unlike Medical Assistance, information that requires verification for RMA (see 18.3.6.1.2) only needs to be verified at time of application.
Verification requests must be made in writing and the applicant must be given a minimum of ten calendar days to provide the verification. As in Medicaid policy (see Medicaid Eligibility Handbook 20.7.1.1), do not deny eligibility for failure to provide the required verification until either the 11th day after requesting verification or the 31st day after the application filing date, whichever is later.
If a refugee has been determined eligible for RMA and begins to receive either earned or unearned income, these earnings do not affect RMA eligibility. Once a refugee has been determined eligible for RMA, he or she remains eligible through the end of their 8 month eligibility period, no matter the amount of their earnings. Because changes in earned and unearned income have no bearing on ongoing RMA financial eligibility, RMA recipients are not required to report income changes.
Similarly, RMA recipients are not required to report nonfinancial changes, such as a change in address or household composition.
Due to RMA’s short eligibility period there is no required review.
The following RMA forms should be used for the situations described:
· The lower portion of the RCA Eligibility Notice of Decision (13753) to inform an applicant that he or she is eligible for RMA.
· The lower portion of RCA Ineligibility Notice of Decision (13758) to inform an applicant that he or she is ineligible for RMA.
The forms listed above are available in English and several refugee languages common in Wisconsin and can be found all in one location on the Forms website. If a form is not available in an appropriate language for a refugee client, another acceptable means of communication must be used, such as verbal translation into the refugee’s native language.
Eligibility processing for RMA needs to be done manually using form Medicaid/BadgerCare Plus Eligibility Certification (F-10110). The medical status codes that may be applicable for this population are the following:
| MA Subprogram | Med Stat | Description | CARES category |
| Refugees, Occasional DOH Funding | 88 | Refugee, no T19, RMAP, no $ | non-CARES |
| Refugees, Occasional DOH Funding | 89 | Refugee, institutionalized, no T19, RMAP, no $ | non-CARES |
In the majority of cases, the medical status code “88” should apply.
Due to security reasons, the form should not be submitted through e-mail. Send the completed form to:
1. FAX: (608) 221-8815 or
2. Mail:
Forward Health iChange
P.O. Box 7636
Madison, WI
53707-7636
Find more detailed information about step-by-step HCF 10110 processing in Process Help 81.2 – 81.4. (A WAMS ID is required to enter Process Help).
A Forward Health card will be issued to refugees found eligible for RMA.
History: There are no previous versions of this policy.