Page 13

July 1, 2026

12 Chapter 3 Applications and Renewals

Section 3.1 Application Process The Wisconsin Shares eligibility determination and authorization process is a two-step process. 1. Eligibility: Parents must complete the application process, meet all financial and nonfinancial eligibility criteria and be determined eligible. 2. Authorization: Parents must select a child care provider and specific location, and request an authorization.

Wisconsin Shares cases must be managed within the applicant’s county of residence or within an Income Maintenance (IM) Consortium that has been approved by the department to pool its Child Care caseload.

ACCESS applications for Wisconsin Shares are routed to the county of residence and must be processed in the county of residence, unless the local agency has an approved waiver from the department or for tribal members who have requested their application be processed by the tribal agency. IM Consortia with approved waivers determine routing rules for their own counties.

Applications for Wisconsin Shares submitted through ACCESS Add a Program (AAP) are assigned to the local agency that currently administers the case and must be processed by the assigned local agency. The ACCESS application cannot be transferred to another local agency even if the parent has moved.

This section last updated 10/1/2023

Section 3.2 Request for Assistance (RFA) There are four (4) ways a parent may apply for Wisconsin Shares: • By phone • In person at the local agency • Filling out and submitting the Wisconsin Shares Child Care Registration form (DCF-F-2835) to the local agency • Online through ACCESS Apply for Benefits (AFB) or Add a Program (AAP)

Families may receive assistance with initiating the application process if they are working with the child welfare agency to care for a child who is not their biological or adopted child. The parent may sign the Wisconsin Shares Child Care Registration form (DCF-F-2835) and allow the child welfare agency to send it to the Income Maintenance (IM) agency on their behalf. The filing date (see 3.2.1) is the date the IM agency receives the signed registration form, not the date the form is signed. Parents may also apply on