Wisconsin Department
of Children and Families - Division
of Early Care and Education
Bureau of Child Care Subsidy Administration
Wisconsin Shares Handbook
Some parents may be unable to participate in an approved activity due to a medical condition. These conditions may be temporary or permanent.
In a two-parent or three-generation household, a parent with a permanent or temporary medical condition may be eligible for a medical exemption from the approved activity requirement. An individual who is the only parent in the Assistance Group (AG) is not eligible for a medical exemption but may be eligible for a Temporary Break Period (TBRK) (see 5.3).
To be exempt from the approved activity requirement, the parent must provide documentation from a physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, psychiatrist, or psychologist that indicates the parent is both:
Unable to care for children while another parent in the AG participates in an approved activity, and
Unable to participate in any approved activity.
| Note: When obtaining health-related information, certain confidentiality requirements must be met. For more information about these requirements, see Section 2.3. |
Agency workers may provide parents with the Wisconsin Shares Parent Medical Exemption form (DCF-F-5566) to assist them with obtaining documentation. Parents should then give the form to the physician, physician assistant, nurse practitioner, psychiatrist, or psychologist who will be providing the information. Use of the form is voluntary; the required information could be provided on medical facility letterhead or an email directly from the provider instead of completion of the form.
The exemption may be temporary or permanent depending on what is indicated on the medical documentation. When a parent in a two-parent or three-generation household has a temporary leave of absence for a medical reason from their approved activity, they must first be evaluated for a medical exemption. If they do not meet the criteria for a medical exemption, then they must be evaluated for TBRK eligibility (see 5.3). If the condition is permanent, the parent must meet the criteria above for a medical exemption to be eligible for Wisconsin Shares.
The other parent(s) in the Wisconsin Shares AG must be participating in an approved activity (see 5.1) and need child care to participate in that approved activity to receive an authorization. The other parent(s) can also be in an Activity Break Period (see 5.3) when one (1) parent has a medical exemption. However, at least one (1) parent in the AG must be in an approved activity or Activity Break Period if another parent requires a medical exemption.
| Example 1 (Temporary Limitation): Mary and John are applying for Wisconsin Shares. They have 6-month-old twins who need Wisconsin Shares subsidy so that Mary can keep her employment. John recently had surgery. He plans to obtain employment after he recovers. His doctor verified that John is unable to take care of his children due to recovering from surgery and that he cannot work at any job for at least four (4) months. John has an exemption from the approved activity requirement until his doctor states that he can care for his children, return to work, or both. |
| Example 2 (Temporary Limitation): Lola and Jason have authorizations for their two (2) children when Lola has a baby. She is on maternity leave for eight (8) weeks. Lola is temporarily unable to participate in her approved activity, but she is still able to care for her children. Even though this is a two-parent household, Lola is placed in a TBRK period because she does not meet the criteria for a medical exemption. |
| Example 3 (Three-Generation Household): Sarah, her spouse Jerome, their minor teen child Fanta, and Fanta’s baby live in one (1) household. Fanta attends high school and Jerome works full time during the day. Sarah is not employed due to a permanent disability. Sarah provides verification from her doctor that she is not able to work and not able to care for her grandchild while Fanta attends high school and Jerome works. Sarah is eligible for a medical exemption. |
| Example 4 (Single Parent Household): Annette applies for Wisconsin Shares in July 2021 and is determined eligible. In March 2022, Annette is in an accident. She is unable to participate in an approved activity. However, because she is the only parent in her AG, she is not eligible for a medical exemption. The agency worker reviews her case and determines that she is eligible for a TBRK period. |
This section last updated 12/1/2022