Wisconsin Department
of Children and Families - Division
of Early Care and Education
Bureau of Child Care Subsidy Administration
Wisconsin Shares Handbook
The local agency must determine the individuals that are to be included in the Assistance Group (AG). The AG includes any of the following individuals who reside in the same household:
An individual who is a parent, according to the Wisconsin Shares definition
The individual’s dependent children
Includes 18-year-olds who are enrolled in high school and are expected to graduate by their 19th birthday and are residing with a parent
Includes minor teen parents and their dependent children also residing with the teen’s parent
The individual’s spouse or any non-marital co-parent
The spouse’s dependent children
The non-marital co-parent’s dependent children
Domestic partners who do not have a child in common are not included in the AG.
If an adult has guardianship of both another adult in the household and that adult’s child, the adult with guardianship of both must be the applicant.
Example 1: A grandparent, an adult parent, and the adult parent’s baby live in the same house. The AG consists of the adult parent and her baby. The applicant is not the grandparent. The grandparent is not in the AG unless the grandparent has guardianship of both the adult parent and her dependent child. |
Example 2: A grandparent has guardianship of her 2-year-old grandchild. The child is reunited with her parent and the parent now also resides in the grandparent’s home. Once the adult parent moves into the house, the AG must change. The parent and grandparent cannot be in the same AG, even though the grandparent has court-ordered guardianship of her grandchild. Eligibility for the child on the grandparent’s case must end and the parent must apply for Wisconsin Shares. |
Example 3: A grandparent has legal guardianship of the adult parent and the adult parent’s dependent child. The AG consists of the grandparent/guardian, the adult parent, and the child. The applicant is the grandparent. |
Example 4: Gloria is applying for Wisconsin Shares. Her household consists of herself, her children, and her grandchild: 18-year-old Maria, 6-year-old Jesus, 4-year-old Cheri, and Maria’s infant Faith. Maria is still enrolled in high school and is expected to graduate before her 19th birthday. This means Maria is a dependent 18-year-old in Gloria’s AG. Because Maria is a dependent 18-year-old, Faith is also included in Gloria’s AG. Gloria is the applicant, and the AG includes Gloria, Maria, Jesus, Cheri, and Faith. |
This section last updated 10/1/2023