Wisconsin Department of Children and Families - Division of Early Care and Education
Bureau of Child Care Subsidy Administration
Wisconsin Shares Handbook
A parent must have ongoing Wisconsin Shares eligibility, including a verified approved activity, at the time of the permanent loss or temporary break in approved activity to be eligible for an Activity Break Period.
Parents are not immediately eligible for an Activity Break Period when they are:
Applying for Wisconsin Shares
Reapplying after one (1) calendar month of closure
Being added to an ongoing case (Person Add)
Parents must have completed the application process [including interview, signature requirements, verification, and confirmation of eligibility in CWW] with an approved activity prior to experiencing the permanent loss of or temporary break in approved activity to be eligible for an Approved Activity Search Period (ACTS) or Temporary Break Period (TBRK). For Activity Break Period eligibility at renewal, see Section 5.3.1.1.
Parents must continue to meet all financial and nonfinancial eligibility requirements during the Activity Break Period to maintain Wisconsin Shares eligibility, including reporting changes within 10 calendar days of the change (see 10.1).
Self-employed parents (see 5.1.1.1) are eligible for an Activity Break Period the same as parents who are regularly employed.
If the parent is employed by a temporary employment agency (or “temp agency”), and the parent reports that their job assignment has ended, the agency worker must ask follow-up questions to determine if the parent is eligible for ACTS or TBRK. If the parent expects to receive a new assignment within the next 30 calendar days, the parent’s Approved Activity Status in CWW should continue to be Employment (EMPL). The case can be evaluated for an ACTS or TBRK period if the parent:
Does not expect to receive a new assignment in the next 30 calendar days
Does not know when their next assignment will be
Reports that they are no longer employed with the temp agency
Parents participating in school-year-based approved activities are eligible for a TBRK period while school is not in session if they intend to return to the same approved activity after the break. This includes:
Parents participating in basic education (see 5.1.2.2), postsecondary education (see 5.1.2.3), or online education (see 5.1.2.4)
Teen parents enrolled in high school (see 5.1.2.1)
Parents employed through a school district
School bus drivers
Any other parents whose approved activity is based on the school year
5.3.1.1 Activity Break Period Eligibility at Renewal
This section last updated 10/1/2023