Wisconsin Department of Children and Families - Division of Early Care and Education
Bureau of Child Care Subsidy Administration

Wisconsin Shares Handbook

 

 

15.1 Authorization Begin Dates at Application and Renewal

When the parent completes the authorization assessment within 30 calendar days of the Request for Assistance (RFA) date or the start date of the new eligibility period, an authorization may begin on the most recent of the following dates:

For relatives with court-ordered placement under Wis. Stat. Chapters 48 or 938 who also receive the Kinship Care payment, the authorization may be backdated to the first of the month of the RFA date if the above criteria were met and the child was placed with the caregiver on or before the first of the month.

 

Note: Although the provider must have a contract with FIS entered in the FIS system to receive Wisconsin Shares payments, the date the FIS contract is entered is not a factor for determining the authorization begin date (see 14.3.2). Similarly, even though a licensed provider must have full-time and/or part-time prices entered in CSAW for parents to receive authorizations to the provider, the date the prices are entered is not a factor for determining the authorization begin date (see 14.4).

 

For authorizations that must start more than 30 calendar days in the past, the local agency must contact the Child Care Help Desk at childcare@wisconsin.gov for review and approval.

If the parent does not provide all the necessary information to complete an authorization assessment within 30 calendar days of the RFA date or the start date of the new eligibility period, the new authorization may only be backdated to the first of the month in which the authorization assessment was completed.

Example 1 (Application): Phil applies for Wisconsin Shares on May 15. He completes the eligibility requirements and is determined eligible on June 8. He provides the necessary information for the authorization assessment, including the name of the provider location that his children have been attending since April, when eligibility is confirmed on June 8. The provider was in compliance with the Wisconsin Shares requirements listed above prior to Phil's RFA date. Eligibility will begin May 1 in CWW, and the authorization in CSAW may begin on May 15 because the authorization assessment was completed within 30 calendar days of the RFA date.

 

Example 2 (Reapplication): Charlotte was receiving Wisconsin Shares for her child, Olivia, when she was determined to be in noncooperation with the Child Support Agency (CSA). She did not claim good cause or cooperate with the CSA within seven (7) business days of receiving the Notice of Action Needed, so her Wisconsin Shares eligibility ended on March 30. On May 8, Charlotte began cooperating with the CSA. She reapplies for Wisconsin Shares on May 9 and is again determined eligible for Wisconsin Shares. Because the case was closed for more than one (1) calendar month, this is a new application. Olivia's authorization can begin on May 9, if Olivia was attending the child care program on this date, the provider met the Wisconsin Shares requirements listed above, and Charlotte completes the authorization assessment by June 8.

 

Example 3 (Application with Kinship Placement): Imani has a nephew, Tyler. Tyler was removed from his parents’ home and placed with Imani on March 10. Imani applies for Wisconsin Shares on April 15. Eligibility is confirmed open for Tyler on April 17. Tyler has been attending the same child care provider since he was removed from his parents’ home on March 10. The agency worker creates an authorization for Tyler with a begin date of April 1.

 

Example 4 (Early renewal): Scarlett’s annual renewal is due May 31; however, she decides to complete an early renewal on April 8 along with her FoodShare renewal. Her eligibility is confirmed on April 11 and her new 12-month eligibility period for Wisconsin Shares starts May 1. Her agency worker ends the current authorization as of April 30 to align with the current eligibility period. Scarlett completes the authorization assessment on May 10 and the agency worker backdates the authorization begin date to May 1 because she completed the assessment within 30 calendar days of the start of her new 12-month eligibility period.

 

Example 5 (Annual renewal): Amina’s annual renewal is due April 30. She completes the interview and provides all verification on April 20. Amina’s new eligibility period starts May 1. She completes the authorization assessment on May 25. The authorization may be backdated to begin May 1 because she completed the authorization assessment within 30 calendar days of the start of her new eligibility period.

 

Example 6 (Late renewal): Anthony’s case was due for a Wisconsin Shares renewal on May 31. Anthony did not complete his renewal timely, and his Wisconsin Shares eligibility ended on May 31. On June 28, Anthony completed the renewal interview, provided his written signature, and submitted all required verification. Eligibility re-opened effective June 1 in CWW because he completed the late renewal within one (1) calendar month of Wisconsin Shares eligibility ending. Anthony completed his authorization assessment on June 30. Anthony’s worker backdates the authorization to June 1 because the authorization assessment was completed within 30 calendar days of the start of his new eligibility period, his child attended the provider throughout the month of June, and the provider was in compliance with the Wisconsin Shares requirements.

 

Example 7 (New Provider): Sasha is open for Wisconsin Shares but does not have an authorization for her child, Gabe. On July 3, a new child care provider opened near Sasha’s work and she wants Gabe to begin attending the provider. The child care provider became regulated on July 3 and the YoungStar contract was entered into the YoungStar Case Management System (CMS) on July 6. The authorization for Gabe can begin on July 6, which is the date the provider met the Wisconsin Shares requirements, if Gabe was attending the provider.

 

This section last updated 10/1/2023