Wisconsin Works (W-2) |
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Wisconsin Works (W-2) is an assistance program designed to assist Wisconsin's lowest income families. The program provides employment preparation services, case management, and cash assistance to eligible families. To be eligible for W-2 assistance, families must have an income below 115% of the Federal Poverty Line (FPL) and at least one minor child. Most W-2 participants are also eligible for other benefits like FoodShare, Medicaid, child care assistance, and Job Access Loans. Each W-2 participant meets with a Financial and Employment Planner (FEP) who helps the participant make an employment plan. According to the Department of Children and Families (DCF), the W-2 program provided 181,772 people with paying jobs in 2014, an average of 15,148 placements per month.
W-2 provides employment preparation and opportunities to low-income Wisconsinites through the following services:
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The 2013-2015 budget cut W-2 funds by a total of $18 million, even though participation in W-2 programs has steadily increased since 2012. The budget also included two programmatic changes to W-2. First, the Trial Jobs program was replaced by the Trial Employment Match Program (TEMP), which would have provided financial incentives to employers to hire more of the state’s residents. While the Trial Jobs program is no longer in effect, implementation of the TEMP program has been delayed and there does not appear to be a similar replacement program if TEMP is never implemented. Also, W-2 services received $1.25 million to expand services to non-custodial parents. Non-custodial parents must be subject to a child support payments and the dependent child must have a separate parent or in-home caretaker that also receives W-2 services.
The governor’s proposed budget makes several changes to the W-2 program. First, the budget proposed to restrict lifetime W-2 eligibility from 60 months to 48 months. This limit could be extended if the W-2 agency determines that the individual is experiencing “hardship” or if the family includes an individual who has been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty. Additionally, the budget proposed to eliminate the current notice and rectification requirements for W-2 sanctions or terminations which require the agency to provide the participant with written notice of and reasons behind the proposed actions and allow the participant reasonable time to rectify. By removing these requirements, the proposed budget would make it easier for W-2 agencies to terminate participants’ W-2 benefits and to deny them due process.
The budget also proposed to require substance abuse screening and testing as an eligibility requirement for certain W-2 programs. This drug testing provision will apply to all Transform Milwaukee, Transitional Jobs, Children First participants, as well as any noncustodial parents seeking W-2 services and benefits. If the drug test is positive and the individual does not have a valid prescription, then the individual would have to participate in substance abuse treatment to remain eligible for W-2 benefits.
Finally, the budget proposed to redefine the “refusal to participate” definitions, behaviors, and circumstances. This change would make it easier to impose three month ineligibility sanctions on participants. The budget also extends the requirement for case management services under the LearnFare program to cases where the child’s W-2 group includes a participant in a TEMP job, community service job, or transitional job who has been unable to participate in activities due to the child’s school-related problems.
The budget also proposed to require substance abuse screening and testing as an eligibility requirement for certain W-2 programs. This drug testing provision will apply to all Transform Milwaukee, Transitional Jobs, Children First participants, as well as any noncustodial parents seeking W-2 services and benefits. If the drug test is positive and the individual does not have a valid prescription, then the individual would have to participate in substance abuse treatment to remain eligible for W-2 benefits.
Finally, the budget proposed to redefine the “refusal to participate” definitions, behaviors, and circumstances. This change would make it easier to impose three month ineligibility sanctions on participants. The budget also extends the requirement for case management services under the LearnFare program to cases where the child’s W-2 group includes a participant in a TEMP job, community service job, or transitional job who has been unable to participate in activities due to the child’s school-related problems.
Joint Finance Committee Proposed Changes to the 2015-2017 Budget
The JFC amended the Governor’s proposed budget by decreasing the amount allocated to W-2 funding slightly to reflect more recent estimates on caseloads and payments that were lower than previously thought.
The JFC amended the Governor’s proposed budget by decreasing the amount allocated to W-2 funding slightly to reflect more recent estimates on caseloads and payments that were lower than previously thought.
Final 2015-2017 W-2 Budget
The Legislature approved the Governor's proposed W-2 budget as amended by the JFC.
Impact on Wisconsin Women & Girls
By not reinvesting in the W-2 program after previous budget cuts and by further limiting W-2 participation through programmatic changes, the proposed budget could reduce Wisconsin women’s opportunities for jobs and skills training. The decreased lifetime eligibility for W-2 may impact women who face life circumstances out of their control, such as health issues, that cause them to need job supports for longer periods of time. Additionally, the proposed mandatory drug testing is constitutionally dubious and will do little to actually help those with substance abuse problems (see section on Drug Testing). Employment training and opportunities are essential for families trying to climb out of poverty, therefore limiting access to programs like W-2 is harmful to the long-term well-being of Wisconsin’s low-income women and families.
