Section 101.17. Job access loan.

 

(1)   Eligibility criteria. An individual is eligible to receive a job access loan if, in addition to meeting the eligibility requirements under s. DCF 101.09 (2) and (3) , all of the following conditions are met with respect to the individual:

(a) The individual needs the loan to address an immediate and discrete financial crisis. The crisis may not be the result of the individual's failure to accept a bona fide offer of employment or the individual's termination of a job without good cause.

(b) The individual needs the loan to obtain or continue employment. Fulfillment of this requirement includes a loan that is needed to repair or purchase a vehicle that is needed to obtain or continue employment.

(c) The individual is not in default with respect to the repayment of any previous job access loan or repayment of any grant or wage overpayments under s. DCF 101.16 .

(d) The individual is not a migrant worker.

(2)   Terms.

(a)

1. W-2 agencies shall issue a job access loan to an eligible individual in an amount not less than $25 and not more than $1600 in any 12-month period.

2. The maximum allowable amount for all loans and the maximum allowable outstanding balance for each individual receiving a job access loan shall be $1600.

(b) The Wisconsin works agency shall establish and maintain procedures that will expedite eligibility determinations and make emergency payments within 24 to 96 hours of loan approval, when necessary.

(c) The loan applicant shall present to the Wisconsin works agency for approval a repayment plan for each loan which incorporates the maximum level of cash repayment and the shortest repayment period that the Wisconsin works agency determines feasible.

(d)

1.

a. The participant may repay a job access loan in cash or through a combination of cash and volunteer in-kind community work approved by the W-2 agency valued at the higher of the state or federal minimum wage rate. At least 25 percent of the loan amount shall be repaid in cash. Participants whose repayment plan includes volunteer work shall find the volunteer opportunity, obtain prior authorization from the Wisconsin works agency and arrange and pay for any needed child care.

b. The W-2 agency shall determine a minimum monthly repayment amount for each loan. Repayment plans may be renegotiated by the agency if there is a significant change of circumstances of the borrower.

2. The participant shall repay a job access loan within a 12-month period except that the repayment period may be extended to a maximum of 24 months if the participant requests an extension and the W-2 agency determines that it is appropriate.

3. The Wisconsin works agency shall provide monthly notices to clients of payments received and the outstanding balance.

(3)   Minor custodial parents. An individual who would be eligible for a job access loan under sub. (1) , except that the individual has not attained the age of 18, is eligible under this subsection if the individual meets the following requirements:

(a) The individual is in one of the following supervised, alternative living arrangements:

1. Kinship care under s. 48.57 (3m) , Stats.

2. Foster home as defined under s. 48.02 (6) , Stats.

3. Group home as defined under s. 48.02 (7) , Stats.

4. An adult supervised independent living arrangement approved by the W-2 agency. In this subdivision, "adult-supervised independent living arrangement" means a setting approved by the W-2 agency in which a minor custodial parent is supervised by an on-site house parent.

(b) The individual has graduated from high school or has met the standards established by the department of public instruction for the granting of a declaration of equivalency of high school graduation under s. 115.29 (4) , Stats.

(c) The individual will be 18 years old within 2 months after applying for the job access loan.

Cr. Register, October, 1997, No. 502 , eff. 11-1-97; am. (1) (b), Register, January, 2001, No. 541 , eff. 2-1-01; CR 06-044 : am. (2) (a) 1., Register November 2006 No. 611 , eff. 12-1-06; corrections in (1) (intro.) and (c) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7. , Stats., Register November 2008 No. 635 .