Wisconsin Works W-2 cash assistance program.
Wisconsin residents with children, and that also have a very low income, can get cash assistance from the state. The financial aid is very limited as well as targeted, with the funds used to pay for a wide variety of bills including housing, utility, food, work, and really anything that will help the resident gain self-sufficiency. Applications can be done online at ACCESS website or a local W-2 site/office.
The money for Wisconsin Works W-2 comes from the state as well as federal government. It is part of the TANF - Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. The state will calculate the amount to pay the resident based on their total household income, number of children, and other factors. But the average payment of Works W-2 is minimal and will amount to a few hundred dollars per month.
In addition, the cash assistance program is time limited. This means that the family can only use support from it for up to 60 months over their lifetime. Once that period of time ends then so does the cash aid, and the family could never apply again in their lifetime. This is why Wisconsin Works W-2 also stresses case management as well as self-sufficiency.
Note the family, or even individual parent, needs to be very low income. In fact, the threshold is even lower than federal government poverty cut-offs. Note it is not only for parents with kids under the age of 19, but cash can also be given to pregnant women, which can be very beneficial to them for paying their bills and buying any baby supplies they may need.
The Wisconsin Works W-2 cash assistance program also requires the kid(s) to be in school as well as immunized. The parent also needs to be working, in job training, volunteering, or actively seeking work. This is not some government entitlement in that it requires the recipient to follow many rules as well as guidelines. The goal is to provide temporary cash assistance to the low-income family, so they can pay their bills, rent, and other expenses while also getting the client on the path to self-sufficiency.
All forms of assistance from Wisconsin Works W-2
The cash, which is a form of financial aid, is just one benefit given. But there are many others. As the W-2 offices in Wisconsin help struggling families (whether they have kids or not) get financial help from other places too.
The TANF - Wisconsin Works is the cash program as noted. The funds go to helping to pay for bills, housing, and really any expense. It can often be combined with Emergency Assistance in Wisconsin. This is key to other low to moderate income families, and it is a program of last resort. The money can help pay utility bills to keep the power on, address rent or mortgages to stop evictions or foreclosures, and offer other support.
Other forms of financial help, which often goes with cash aid, is the Wisconsin Job Access Loans. The money here is mostly focused on job related costs, such as gasoline, car repairs, clothing, computers, and the like. The loans will be interest free for a period.
Several other government benefits are also available. Most of those on TANF also qualify for these programs. They include disability benefits from SSI, SNAP food stamps, section 8 housing, Medicaid, and more. All of this is often combined to help a very low-income family pay their bills. Another may service is helping parents pay for day care costs. It can generally give them hundreds of dollars more per month in support when combined with the Wisconsin Works W-2 cash assistance program.
Phone number for Wisconsin cash assistance and W-2
As noted, applying for TANF cash assistance – W2 works in Wisconsin either online at the ACCESS site. Or call 855-757-4539.
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