Wisconsin Department of Children and Families - Division of Early Care and Education
Bureau of Child Care Subsidy Administration
Wisconsin Shares Handbook
The Wisconsin Shares copayment types are as follows:
Regular: The Regular copayment type will base the copayment on the actual income and family size, and the number of children in subsidized child care. This copayment code is used when a family does not qualify for a Reduced Copayment Type.
Reduced Copayment Types:
$0 Copayment Types: These copayment types apply $0 copayment reduction to the subsidy amount.
Foster: Used for children residing with a foster care parent, subsidized guardian, or interim caretaker.
Kinship: Used for children residing with a relative under a court-ordered placement (with or without the Kinship Care payment).
W2 Participant: Used when a parent is open for Wisconsin Works (W-2).
Learnfare: Used for children of teen parents participating in the Learnfare program due to their custodial parent participating in W-2. See the Wisconsin Works (W-2) Manual Chapter 16 for more information about Learnfare.
Assistance groups at or below 100% FPL have a $0 copayment.
Minimal Copayment Types (Based on 65% Federal Poverty Level [FPL]): These copayment types apply a copayment based on 65% FPL instead of the placement family’s (Non-Court Ordered Kinship) or the family’s (Teen High School and W-2 Emp End, Unsub Emp Begin) actual income level.
Non-Court Ordered Kinship: Used when children are residing with a relative and there is no court order for the child’s placement.
Teen High School: Used for children of teen parents under the age of 20 years old who are enrolled in high school or its equivalent.
W-2 Emp End, Unsub Emp Begin: Used for children of W-2 participants who move from a W-2 employment position (Community Service Job (CSJ), W-2 Transition (W-2 T), or Trial Employment Match Program (TEMP) placement) to regular employment.
| Note: It is a recommended best practice that agency workers remind parents with a $0 copayment that this does not mean they will have a $0 Parent Share. The Parent Share will be established between the provider and the parent based on the difference between the provider’s price and the subsidy amount the parent receives. |
If a family is within their eligibility period, the agency worker must not apply any copayment type change that would increase the family’s copayment per hour until the next annual eligibility renewal. The agency worker must enter the new copayment type in CSAW with the day following the next renewal date entered as the Begin Date.
| Example 1: Ravi is a W-2 participant and is receiving Wisconsin Shares. His children Kiara and Sai have authorizations with a W2 Participant copayment type. In May, Ravi discontinues participation in W-2. Since the change from the W2 Participant copayment type to the Regular copayment type would cause an increase in the copayment amount, the agency worker enters the new Regular copayment type with a begin date of the day after Ravi’s annual renewal due date. |
| Example 2: Melody and Jennifer are married and have a foster child, Joshua, placed with them. They are determined eligible for Wisconsin Shares in April, and Joshua’s authorization uses the Foster copayment type ($0). In October, Melody and Jennifer adopt Joshua. Since the change from the Foster copayment type to the Regular copayment type causes an increase in the copayment amount, the agency worker enters the new copayment type with a begin date of the day after their next annual renewal due date. |
For more information about using copayment types in CSAW, see the CSAW User Guide – Authorizations.
This section last updated 11/1/2024