3.3.4.1 Homestead

The value of the W-2 Group’s primary home serving as the homestead An abode and lands used or operated in connection with it. for the W-2 Group An adult custodial parent, all dependent children with respect to whom the individual is a legal custodial parent and all minor children with respect to whom the adult individual’s dependent child is a custodial parent. W-2 Group includes any non-marital co-parent or any spouse of the individual who resides in the same household as the individual and any minor children with respect to whom the spouse or non-marital co-parent is a custodial parent. W-2 Group does not include any person who is receiving cash benefits under a county relief block grant program. This is also referred to as the W-2 Assistance Group (W-2 AG) shall be excluded as an asset when the home is valued at 200% of the statewide median value or less.

FEPs shall count any home valued at more than 200% of the statewide median home value as an asset.

The home should be disregarded as an asset, regardless of home value, when any of the following hardship criteria are met:

No member of the W-2 group has the legal right to sell the home. For example: The home is subject to pending legal process(es); The home is jointly owned with a person not in the W-2 Group and does not consent to selling their share;

The W-2 Group had a recent sudden loss of income due to death, divorce, separation, or non-payment of support;

The W-2 Group includes an incapacitated group member; or

The W-2 Group is or has been subject to domestic abuse or is at risk of further domestic abuse; or if the home is jointly owned with the abuser, and the abuser is not a member of the W-2 Group.

FEPs shall determine the W-2 Group’s home value using a reliable source, such as:

Home value produced from an appraisal, realtor, or a recent final sale value; and

Online valuation tools, such as Zillow , or Real Estate Maximums, RE/MAX .

FEPs shall compare the W-2 Group’s home value to 200% of the previous year’s year-to-date statewide median home price, as reported by the Wisconsin Realtor Association’s (WRA) Wisconsin Housing Statistics.

Navigate to the Wisconsin Housing Statistics year-to-date median price data and multiply it by two to determine if the individual’s home is valued at more than 200% the statewide median home value.

The home value shall exclude the value of land used for agricultural purposes.

In urban situations, the homestead usually consists of a house and lot. A home can consist of a house and more than one lot when the lots adjoin one another.

In farm situations, the home consists of the house and buildings together with the total acreage property upon which they are located and which is considered part of the farm. In situations where the land is on both sides of a road, it is still considered a part of the home.

E XAMPLE 1 : Carmon is applying to W-2 in August of 2022 and reports being a homeowner. Their FEP finds that Carmon does not meet any of the home value hardship criteria and enters Carmon’s home address into Zillow which reports the home is valued at $350,000. Carmon’s FEP cross references the Wisconsin Realtor Association’s data for median home price using the 2021 year-to-date data, which is $240,000. 200% of the 2021 median home value is $240,000 x 2 = $480,000. Since Carmon’s home is valued at less than 200% of the statewide median home value, their home is disregarded as an asset.

EXAMPLE 2 : Alex is applying to W-2 in August of 2022 and reports being a homeowner. During application, Alex self-reports escaping a domestic violence situation to their FEP. Regardless of the value of Alex’s home, the home is disregarded from the asset test due to meeting hardship criteria.

EXAMPLE 3 : Zara is applying to W-2 in August of 2022 and reports being a homeowner. Their FEP determines Zara does not meet any of the home value hardship criteria. Zara provides documents from an appraisal she had done a year ago reporting her home is valued at $500,000. Using the year-to-date data for 2021 median home price, 200% of the 2021 median home value is $240,000 x 2 = $480,000 Zara is ineligible for W-2 because her home’s value is greater than 200% of the statewide median home value and does not meet any hardship exemption criteria.