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Monday, November 30, 1998
Governor
Tommy G. Thompson
Secretary
Linda Stewart

News Media Contact
DWD News Office
608/267-4400
e-mail: news@dwd.state.wi.us
fax: 608/266-1784

W-2 participation declines again;
food stamp use up

W2 Data Table for October 1998

Madison, Wis. -- The total number of families participating in Wisconsin’s work-based welfare-replacement program called W-2 fell below 15,000 in October.

It was the first time in the history of W-2 that mark had been passed, according to an announcement today by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. It also was the lowest caseload on record for the earlier state welfare programs it replaced

There were 34,491 families participating in W-2 or AFDC when W-2 began Sept. 1, 1997, compared to 14,755 a month ago. The mesurement counts all participants, whether or not they are receiving financial assistance.

The agency also said:

The number of those receiving financial assistance under the program declined to 9,741, the first time below 10,000 as far back as such records exist, the agency added.

Under W-2, financial assistance is provided for up to five years to some participants directly or indirectly as they gain work experience in three types of subsidized employment.

The number of families receiving food stamps rose in the state in October for the first time in nine months, in part due to increased information-sharing by W-2 agencies with those they’re helping. Eligibility for food stamps is based on income and not W-2 participation.

The agency’s Secretary, Linda Stewart, said W-2 officials believe that the main reasons the W-2 participation numbers are declining "are economic-related."

"With Wisconsin’s strong economy, the help of Wisconsin’s employers and the efforts of W-2 staff and participants, many people are finding work through W-2 or on their own, or have begun tapping other resources, including food stamps," she said.

"Some are finding they don’t need -- or don’t want -- the help available to them through W-2, even after W-2 agencies have counseled with them and encouraged them to take advantage of the opportunities available to them.

"That may surprise some, but it doesn’t surprise us. We think more and more people are believing in themselves and benefiting from the ‘helping hands’ of W-2."

Another factor is a reduction in the number of teen mothers, which also reduces the number of those who W-2 was designed to assist.

Stewart said her agency soon will have more information to help it determine the major reasons for W-2 participation or non-participation.

She said the agency is completing a formal study of the reasons why people formerly receiving Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) or enrolled in the W-2 program which replaced it no longer are enrolled.

The study is based on those who declined or withdrew from participation between January and March of this year. Other studies of those in the same categories in later time periods will be undertaken next, she said.

"We’ve identified a number of reasons why people have left the W-2 program, or decided not to participate even though eligible," Stewart said. "What we have not known are the potential numbers associated with each reason."

"When our study is completed in the next few weeks, we’ll have the detailed information we’ve been seeking."

Stewart said 9,741 of the 14,755 families enrolled in W-2 in October were in those programs which include direct or indirect financial support while they pick up the job skills they need.

W-2 enrollment a month earlier was 15,241 and the financial-assistance count was 10,047, both of which then were record lows.

Statewide, the number of those in unsubsidized activities declined over the month to 5,014, or down 180 from September. It was the first decline in this category in five months. Most of those in the unsubsidized category are employed, with wages averaging $6.70 an hour. About 44 per cent are earning at least $7.00 an hour.

The other three classifications -- community service jobs, trial jobs, and a special W-2 Transitions program which provides the most intensive level of services -- provide financial assistance for a limited period of time while those in the program gain the skills needed to remain employed.

The number in community service jobs, which accounts for about half of all W-2 participants each month, declined in October to 7,341 from September’s 7,703. The number in trial jobs declined from 83 to 67 in October. W-2 Transitions enrollment rose from 2,261 to 2,333 over the month.

Milwaukee County, which in October accounted for 82 per cent of W-2 participation statewide, also saw similar trends over the month.

Unsubsidized activity participation there declined, from 4,059 to 3,849 families, while community service job enrollment dropped from 7,045 to 6,652. Trial job involvement decreased from 54 to 41. W-2 Transitions participation rose from 1,600 to 1,630. W-2 enrollment overall dropped from 12,758 to 12,172.

Four of Wisconsin’s 72 counties reported no families receiving financial assistance in October, while another 39 counties reported counts in the single digits. Both measurements were at about the same level of recent months. The four counties were Florence, Iron, Lafayette and Waushara.

All counties continued to provide other services to W2 participants, including food stamps and medical assistance and, in some cases, other types of support through what W-2 officials call "case management" activities.

"Stewart said among the reasons that food stamp use increased over the month was because people were learning about them as a result of increased emphasis on their availability by W-2 agencies across the state. About 79 per cent of those in W-2 currently are eligible to receive food stamps."

"Food stamps remain an important form of support to low income families. The Department remains committed to making eligible families aware of this benefit and ensuring food stamp processing is quick and efficient.

"Even when Wisconsin was seeing a decline in the number of food stamp recipients along with many other states, our decline was less than the national average. We believe this demonstrates that Wisconsin is doing a better job than other states in letting our clients know about the availability of food stamps."

Stewart said anyone who previously decided not to enroll in W-2 or otherwise left the program and who has no or low income still may be eligible to participate. They also may be eligible for other services, including Medicaid and food stamps. Anyone interested in these services should contact a W-2 agency for more details.

The key data, in summary:

W-2 Placements as of Oct. 31, 1998
	Total State	%	Milwaukee	%
Unsubsidized	5,014	34.0	3,849	31.6
Trial Job	67	0.5	41	0.3
Community Service	7,341	49.8	6,652	54.7
W-2 Transitions	2,333	15.8	1,630	13.4

Total W-2	14,755	100.0	12,172	100.0

OCTOBER 1998 W2 CASELOAD REPORT Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Economic Support Division
	A	B	C	D	E
AGENCY	W2 W/PAYMENT	W2 WO/PAYMENT	W2 TOTAL*	FOOD STAMPS	MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
	* Column C = Column A and B
Adams	4	6	10	324	714
Ashland	1	3	4	361	773
Barron	5	5	10	674	1,708
Bayfield	1	0	1	144	439
Brown	19	13	32	1,738	4,576
Buffalo	12	3	15	183	424
Burnett	4	3	7	194	562
Calumet	2	10	12	172	601
Chippewa	16	13	29	594	1,729
Clark	3	3	6	231	929
Columbia	5	5	10	305	1,078
Crawford	1	0	1	186	533
Dane	295	146	441	3,641	6,480
Dodge	24	18	42	473	1,806
Door	6	8	14	192	602
Douglas	31	17	48	908	1,873
Dunn	20	30	50	461	1,091
Eau Claire	36	34	70	1,148	2,485
Florence	0	4	4	61	200
Fond du Lac	30	36	66	584	2,237
Forest	6	2	8	101	403
Grant	3	5	8	338	1,243
Green	2	2	4	280	767
Green Lake	7	1	8	151	483
Iowa	3	3	6	212	484
Iron	0	0	0	79	267
Jackson	1	1	2	249	644
Jefferson	9	4	13	314	1,473
Juneau	20	18	38	263	739
Kenosha	128	184	312	1,994	3,931
Kewaunee	3	4	7	85	422
La Crosse	50	39	89	1,328	2,751
Lafayette	0	1	1	101	282
Langlade	7	11	18	358	763
Lincoln	8	0	8	268	882
Manitowoc	3	3	6	427	1,898
Marathon	49	31	80	1,012	2,735
Marinette	4	0	4	463	1,458
Marquette	2	0	2	138	376
Milwaukee: Region 1	906	607	1,513	NA	NA
Milwaukee: Region 2	943	493	1,436	NA	NA
Milwaukee: Region 3	1,658	1,106	2,764	NA	NA
Milwaukee: Region 4	1,913	573	2,486	NA	NA
Milwaukee: Region 5	1,376	436	1,812	NA	NA
Milwaukee: Region 6	1,522	631	2,153	NA	NA
Milwaukee: No Region	5	3	8	NA	NA
Milwaukee: Total	8,323	3,849	12172	34,224	47,121
Monroe	18	34	52	442	1,202
Oconto	5	7	12	259	875
Oneida	12	5	17	428	1,156
Outagamie	58	31	89	574	2,113
Ozaukee	6	1	7	205	787
Pepin	1	0	1	63	249
Pierce	8	4	12	165	671
Polk	3	9	12	400	1,183
Portage	18	18	36	646	1,468
Price	6	10	16	310	732
Racine	117	39	156	2,289	4,980
Richland	2	5	7	223	474
Rock	63	69	132	1,748	3,972
Rusk	3	5	8	243	639
St.Croix	9	3	12	244	1070
Sauk	18	8	26	382	1298
Sawyer	3	4	7	296	754
Shawano	18	14	32	319	1,007
Sheboygan	8	14	22	556	2,185
Taylor	2	2	4	221	644
Trempealeau	7	2	9	351	1,064
Vernon	6	4	10	339	849
Vilas	8	1	9	133	479
Walworth	19	36	55	463	1,680
Washburn	3	2	5	202	573
Washington	13	24	37	438	1,513
Waukesha	29	30	59	916	3,674
Waupaca	15	3	18	306	1,791
Waushara	0	4	4	284	692
Winnebago	34	53	87	1,072	3,008
Wood	18	20	38	919	2,154
Menominee	24	13	37	109	328
Red Cliff	0	0	0	95	145
Stockbridge-Munsee	0	0	0	27	51
Lac du Flambeau	25	20	45	112	198
Bad River	9	1	10	61	124
Sokaogon	0	0	0	33	54
Oneida Tr.	58	4	14	63	257
TOTAL	9,741	5,014	14,755	70,895	146,055
W2 caseload is determined by cases that are open and eligible during the report month. " W2 with payment" category includes Community Service Jobs, W2 Transition cases, and Trial Jobs. This report is considered preliminary. Testing is ongoing.

For an e-mail version of this news release,
send your e-mail request and address to:
news@dwd.state.wi.us


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