Wisconsin 2023-2024 Regular Session

Wisconsin Assembly Bill AB101

Introduced
3/8/23  
Refer
3/8/23  

Caption

Creating an ineligibility period in the Medical Assistance and FoodShare programs for voluntary employment termination. (FE)

Impact

The implementation of this bill is anticipated to significantly alter the landscape of welfare support within the state. By imposing a six-month waiting period for individuals who voluntarily leave their jobs, the bill seeks to reduce reliance on public assistance programs among those eligible. Proponents argue that this will create a stronger labor market by motivating individuals to remain in their jobs. Conversely, opponents fear that it could disproportionately affect low-income residents, particularly if they leave work for legitimate reasons that may not be adequately accounted for in the bill's exceptions.

Summary

Assembly Bill 101 introduces an ineligibility period for certain individuals within the Medical Assistance (MA) and FoodShare programs. Specifically, it applies to able-bodied adults who choose to voluntarily terminate their employment. Under this new regulation, these individuals would be disqualified from receiving MA and FoodShare benefits for a period of six months after the date of their last paycheck. The bill aims to encourage sustained employment and dissuade voluntary job termination among able-bodied adults who might otherwise seek welfare benefits post-employment.

Contention

Notable contention surrounds the specifics of how the bill applies to voluntary employment termination, as it outlines specific scenarios wherein individuals would not be subjected to the ineligibility period. These scenarios include terminations due to employer directives to violate the law, cases of sexual harassment, the illness of the employee or a family member requiring care, and other mitigating circumstances. Critics argue that the bill may not sufficiently cover all valid reasons for termination, potentially leaving vulnerable populations without necessary security during transitions between jobs.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

WI SB363

Requiring the department of health and environment (KDHE) to seek federal approval for continuous medicaid eligibility for certain individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities receiving services through a home and community based services waiver, directing state agencies to report to certain legislative committees on Kansans losing public assistance program eligibility, requiring the Kansas department for children and families and KDHE to enter into data-matching agreements with state agencies to verify eligibility for food and medical assistance and KDHE to submit certain data to the centers for medicare and medicaid services, prohibiting certain public assistance waivers or exemptions without legislative approval and self-attestation for purposes of determining eligibility for public assistance, requiring quarterly eligibility redeterminations for medical assistance and providing exceptions for certain individuals, limiting retroactive enrollment in medical assistance, immediately terminating eligibility for medical assistance upon confirmation of death of the enrollee, increasing the age limit for able-bodied adults without certain dependents and prohibiting certain exemptions from work requirements under the food assistance program.

WI AB180

Requiring the Department of Health Services to seek any necessary waiver to prohibit the purchase of candy or soft drinks with FoodShare benefits. (FE)

WI SB2451

DHS and Medicaid assistance program benefits; revise eligibility criteria and verification procedures for.

WI HB1797

relative to eligibility for public assistance, including the New Hampshire employment program, family assistance program, and SNAP.

WI HB2731

Requiring the department of health and environment in coordination with the Kansas department for aging and disability services to seek federal approval to establish continuous medicaid eligibility for certain individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities who are receiving services through a home and community based services waiver, requiring the secretary for children and families and the secretary of health and environment to enter into data-matching agreements with state agencies to verify eligibility for food and medical assistance, directing the department of health and environment to submit certain data to the centers for medicare and medicaid services, prohibiting certain public assistance program waivers or exemptions without legislative approval, prohibiting self-attestation for purposes of determining eligibility for public assistance programs, limiting retroactive enrollment in the medical assistance program, increasing the age limit for able-bodied adults without certain dependents and prohibiting certain exemptions from work requirements under the food assistance program.

WI AB163

Redeterminations of eligibility for the Medical Assistance program and database confirmation for public assistance program eligibility. (FE)

WI SB61

Public assistance; regular cross-checks required for Medicaid and food assistance eligibly, categorical eligibly for food assistance prohibited, eligibility for food assistance further provided for

WI SB1106

Expanding eligibility for the Medical Assistance program. (FE)

WI AB1236

Expanding eligibility for the Medical Assistance program. (FE)

WI HB2287

Eliminating certain restrictions for eligibility for public assistance, including removing the requirement to cooperate with child support services, restrictions on persons convicted of drug felonies, requirements for employment and training programs, photograph requirements for benefits cards and legislative action required for expansion of medical assistance, permitting the secretary from granting categorical eligibility standards, extending the lifetime limitation on benefits, providing for hardship extensions and exempting parents providing care for a child less than one year of age.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.