You are eligible for child care assistance whether you receive W-2 or not. In order to receive child care:

1. First, you must be a parent living with his or her children, a kinship care relative (i.e. grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, adult sibling), guardian, foster parent, legal custodian or other person acting like a parent,
2. Second, you must need the care for a child who is under 13 years old or a disabled child under 18 years old, (a disabled child is a child who requires more than the usual care and supervision for the child’s age)
3. Third, you must need the child care in order to work, participate in your W-2 activities (your treatment, school and work), participate in the food stamp work program or for certain school programs.

If you are looking for a job while your W-2 application is being processed or you are in a W-2 case management (job-ready) or other work placement you can receive child care while you look for work.

You should report the job loss to your county worker and your W-2 worker (if you have one). If you want to continue to receive child care while you look for a job you must enroll in the W-2 program. You cannot continue to use child care if you are not working or enrolled in W-2.

You can receive child care to go to school if you are under 20 and you need it to complete high school.

Yes, parents and other relatives can receive child care for high school equivalency programs, basic or literacy programs, to learn English or college programs. The parent or other relative must also work a few hours a week. Child care for school for persons not receiving W-2 can only be received for two years.

No, parents who are in this country illegally are eligible for child care but only for children that are citizens or legally residing in the United States.

In order to begin receiving child care assistance your family’s income from work and other sources must be at or below 185% of poverty. The current standards are:

• family of two $2,035
• family of three $2,559
• family of four $3,083
• family of five $3,607

• family of two $2,200
• family of three $2,767
• family of four $3,333
• family of five $3,900

Any child support your family receives will not be counted towards your income. There is no asset limit for child care.

The income standards change each April when the poverty limit is adjusted.

Yes, you can pick any provider you like so long as she is certified or licensed. You can pick a family home provider or a day care center.

Only if it is necessary because of the child’s health conditions or other special circumstances.

Once you are authorized for child care the county pays the child care provider directly.

Most parents and caretakers will have to pay a co-payment.   Teen parents who are in a W-2 family and who attend school do not have a co-payment.   Other teen parents, foster parents and kinship relatives with court orders, will only have to pay a minimum co-payment.   Parents leaving W-2 for a job pay the minimum co-payment for the first month they work.

Your co-payment amount will depend on your family’s income (child support does not count), your family size and the type of child care you use.

You need to tell your county worker who the new provider is and give the old provider 10 days notice. In most cases the new provider won’t be paid until the 10 days has passed. You do not have to give 10 days notice if there is an emergency situation (for example, you suspect your child is being abused).

You can request a hearing before the state Division of Hearings and Appeals. You must request a hearing within 45 days of the effective date of the action you are challenging, or the date of the notice you receive, whichever is later

You can mail your request to:

The state hearing office will schedule a hearing within 2-4 weeks of your request.

Legal Action can help you with a hearing. Contact Legal Action in Milwaukee at (414) 278-7722 or toll free at (888) 278-0633.

In Milwaukee, you can apply for these benefits at the county offices listed on the previous page.

In counties other than Milwaukee, go to your county social or human services office.