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Example 2: Lacey is participating in Wisconsin Works (W-2) and is requesting an authorization for her child, Andre. Her W-2 Employability Plan (EP) has five (5) hours per week of W-2 activities. Lacey requests 20 hours for Andre’s authorization. The agency worker enters 20 weekly hours as the authorized hours in CSAW because Andre is eligible for a part-time authorization based on Lacey’s EP activities. No follow-up questions are needed because the difference between five (5) weekly hours and 20 weekly hours is within part-time and does not change the subsidy amount.
If the difference crosses the threshold from part-time approved activity hours to full- time authorized hours, or the threshold from full-time to above full-time (see 16.1.1), agency workers should review the following items to account for the difference: • Unpaid Lunch Breaks • Other Unpaid Breaks • Unusual circumstances that may not be reflected in pay stubs, including but not limited to: o Child was ill and the parent missed work o Parent was ill and had fewer work hours o Parent or child had medical/dental appointment and missed work o Vacation o The employer closed the business due to a holiday, weather, or unsafe conditions o Parent was sent home early due to low workload o Parent was called into work due to increased workload • Parent is requesting child care based on the highest weekly hours needed within a month and CWW has averaged hours • Sleep hours (see 16.1.1.2) • Head Start or 4K times when the parent is in their approved activity only part of the school program hours (see 16.1.1.3) • Gap time coverage (see 16.1.1.5) • Travel time (see 16.1.1.6) • Any other explanation that reasonably explains a difference between the self- declared child care need and the approved activity verification
If the inclusion of the items above brings the self-declared child care need into alignment with the verified approved activity hours, the agency worker must accept the parent’s stated child care need. A summary of the reason(s) for the difference must be