Today will be my last e-update to you until after the November election. Under state law, beginning April 15, Representatives who are up for re-election in November are prohibited from sending more than 49 pieces of similar correspondence from their legislative offices. This rule is in place so that incumbents do not have an unfair advantage over their political opponents.
However, an exception to the rule was made for COVID-19 information, given the unprecedented time we are in and the need for regular communication. The exception for COVID-19 information ends today, Wednesday, June 10. However, I will continue to post regular updates on my legislative website and to my Facebook page.
On that note, my final COVID-19 e-update includes information on the Child Care Counts program, expanded food assistance, availble grants, and more. If you have any questions or need assistance with any matter, please feel free to contact my office.
Sincerely, Lisa Subeck State Representative 78th Assembly District
Child Care Counts: COVID-19 Emergency Payment Program
The Department of Children and Families (DCF) awarded just over $32 million to 2,367 early care and education providers through the first period of the Child Care Counts: COVID-19 Emergency Payment Program. The application window for the second period of funding opened Monday.
The first round of payments, totaling $32.21 million covers child care provider activity from March 12 to April 11. Eligible child care providers who applied during the first payment window will begin receiving their payments this week through direct deposit and paper checks. Payments ranged from a low of five dollars to a high of $77,695, with the median average payment equaling $8,465.
The department estimated demand from eligible child care providers and set maximum amounts for the payment criteria according to those estimates. Because the amounts requested applicants exceeded the funds available, adjustments to the payment amounts were required. A full schedule of payment criteria for the first period of payments can be found on the department's website.
The Child Care Counts: COVID-19 Emergency Payment Program is broken into three smaller programs targeted at the most common circumstances early care and education providers are facing in the wake of the public health emergency. The individual payment programs and the amounts allocated to them during period one are detailed below. Additionally, the department is issuing payments across three application periods: May 18 to May 29, June 8 to June 19, and June 29 to July 10. Providers are encouraged to apply during all eligible phases and may be eligible for funding through multiple programs. Child care providers could begin applying for the second period Monday.
Funding to Care for Essential Workforce Families – $24.43 million for period one:This program is designed to support the costs of providing care for essential workforce families. Funds are to be used for paying staff, reimbursing families, or other allowable expenses.
Incentive Pay – $5.38 million for period one: The Incentive Pay program provides additional wages for child care providers and individual educators. Funds are required to be used to increase base pay during the State of Emergency for current employees, providers, and individual educators.
Support for Temporarily Closed Child Care Programs – $2.41 million for period one: To assist providers who were forced to close, this program helps defray costs associated with retaining staff and reopening child care programs as Wisconsin’s workforce returns to work. Funds are required to be used for reopening within 30 days of receiving funding. The money received is required to be used for paying staff, reimbursing families, or other allowable expenses.
Households with incomes below 300% of the federal poverty level (FPL) are now eligible to receive a monthly share of locally grown, Grade-A foods that include meat, vegetables, fruit, juice, and more from a TEFAP food pantry. For a household of one, that income threshold is $38,280. The larger the household, the higher the income threshold. Previously TEFAP’s qualifying income threshold was 185% FPL, or $23,606 for a household of one.
The new income threshold was proposed by Wisconsin’s TEFAP Advisory Council and approved by DHS and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to assist families during the COVID-19 pandemic. The new policy went into effect on June 1 statewide and will affect all pantries from the first day they open this month, since some pantries are only open once or twice a month. Households affected by job losses may be eligible if their income drops below specific levels in any given week.
Enrollment at a participating pantry is confidential and requires only proof of address and identification. Individuals participating in the FoodShare, School Nutrition, WIC, and Senior Meals programs may participate in TEFAP without impacting their ability to qualify for those programs.
Each Wisconsin county has at least one TEFAP food pantry. Households should call 2-1-1, the statewide helpline, to get the address, service hours, and phone number of the nearest food pantry that participates in the TEFAP program.
Wisconsin’s pantry volunteers are providing “no contact” food distribution during the COVID-19 pandemic by enrolling households and distributing groceries outdoors to minimize health risks. In many locations, TEFAP applicants and participants remain in their cars for service.
Rent Assistance or Small Business Grants Available
Rental Assistance Program Community Action Coalition For South Central Wisconsin, Inc. is currently accepting applications for the Governor’s Rental Assistance Program. This program provides grants of up to $3,000 to help pay for rent and security deposits.
Payments will be made directly to landlords. Eligible applicants must have a household income at or below 80% of the county median income in the month of or prior to the application date, and must also provide documentation showing that they’ve had significant loss of income due to COVID-19. You can also learn more about the Rental Assistance Program by visiting the Department of Administration (DOA) website HERE.
To apply for the Rental Assistance Program, call Community Action Coalition For South Central Wisconsin, Inc. at (608) 237-1255.
Grants for Small Businesses Governor Evers recently announced “We’re All In”, a grant program for small businesses. If you operate a small business and have been impacted by the COVID-19 shutdown, you may be eligible for a grant of up to $2,500. The application portal will be open Monday, June 15 through Sunday, June 21. To be eligible, you must:
Be a Wisconsin-based, for-profit business.
Employ 20 or fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) employees, including the owner.
Earn greater than $0 but less than $1 million in annual revenues (gross sales and receipts).
Have started operating prior to January 1, 2020 and have been in business in February 2020.
Additional information on the “We’re All In” program is available on the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) website HERE.
Due to an increase in the state's unemployment rate, Wisconsin triggered onto the Extended Benefit (EB) program, which provides additional unemployment benefits to those who exhaust previous benefits, effective May 17, 2020. Unemployed individuals who exhaust their regular unemployment insurance (UI) benefits and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) may be eligible for an additional 13 weeks of benefits. The EB program does not apply to individuals collecting Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA).
After EB is programmed, individuals with remaining balances of regular UI or PEUC will continue to draw those benefits until those benefits are exhausted.
For your constituents, it is important to note that:
Individuals filing at the time will be provided messaging in their claimant portal prior to exhausting benefits and will be able to submit a new initial application to continue their payment under the EB program.
Those who are no longer filing at that time will be identified and notified of potential eligibility by mail.
DWD still needs to program its system to address EB, so please watch your claimant portal or your mail through the postal service for when these benefits will be available. EB claimants will receive all back payment for which they are eligible.
Having Trouble Receiving Unemployment Benefits?
If it has been at least three weeks since you submitted your application and you have not received your benefits, my office may be able to help you. If you are experiencing a different issue with your application, please email Rep.Subeck@legis.wi.gov with the following information:
Full name (with Middle initial if applicable)
Phone number
Date of Birth or last 4 digits of SSN
Address
Issue that needs to be resolved
Status of your application
Did you apply online?
What date did you submit it?
My staff will send this information to DWD and request that they promptly look into your case. I understand that this is a difficult financial time for many, and I am committed to helping you receive your benefits in a timely manner.
