VA 13.02 Eligibility. (1) Veteran status. The department shall verify an applicant’s veteran status during the assessment conducted under s. VA 13.03. (2) Need for assistance. Assistance shall be provided to a veteran under the veterans assistance housing and recovery program when the veteran’s need for assistance arises because of any of the following circumstances:
(a) Homelessness or conditions which indicate that the veteran is at risk of becoming homeless.
(b) Incarceration.
(c) Unemployment or underemployment which significantly limits a veteran’s ability to be self−supporting.
(d) Affliction with acute or chronic physical or mental health problems which significantly limits a veteran’s ability to be self−supporting.
(e) Insufficient monthly income and resources, as determined by the department, to pay for the cost of care provided at an assisted living facility established at a veterans home.
(3) Provision of assistance. A veteran who establishes a need for assistance under this section shall enter into a written agreement with the department identifying the assistance that the veteran shall receive and the veteran’s responsibilities under the veterans assistance housing and recovery program. The department may terminate assistance whenever the veteran fails to fulfill his or her responsibilities under the agreement.
VA 13.03 Assessment. Each applicant shall be assessed to determine his or her veteran status and need for assistance in the following areas:
(1) Medical.
(2) Legal.
(3) Alcohol and other drug abuse.
(4) Mental health.
(5) Vocational.
(6) Housing.
(7) Employment.
Section 4. VA 13.04(3), (4) are repealed, VA 13.04, (1), (2) are renumbered VA 13.04(1m), (1m)(a), (1m)(c), (m)(d), and 13.04 is amended to read:
VA 13.04 AssistanceVeterans housing and recovery program. (1m) Assistance. Upon completion of an assessment conducted under s. VA 13.03 and pursuant to a written agreement between the department and the eligible veteran the following assistance shall be provided subject to availability: (1)(a) Transitional housing.
(b) Permanent housing.
(2)(c) Referrals to service providers.
Section 5. VA 13.05 is renumbered VA 13.04(2m) and amended to read:
VA 13.05(2m) Program fees and rental charges. The department or regional transitional or permanent housing site vendor may collect a monthly fee or rental charge from athe veterans assistance housing and recovery program participant residing in a regional transitional or permanent housing site in an amount calculated under the following schedule:
(a) RESIDENTS OF REGIONAL TRANSITIONAL HOUSING SITES. A resident of a regional transitional housing site who is employed or who is receiving supplemental security income, social security disability insurance payments or any other disability or pension benefits, other than compensated work therapy or industrial/incentive therapy payments paid at a rate below the prevailing minimum wage, may be assessed a monthly program rental charge of not more than 30% of monthly income, after a deduction for medical expenses, child care expenses, court−ordered child support payments, or any other court−ordered payment. The assessment shall be uniformly applied to each resident of a specific site. The total amount of the monthly assessments at a particular site may not exceed the site’s monthly unfunded operational costs. An individual assessment may begin upon the resident’s receipt of a second pay or benefit check except when the resident receives a retroactive lump sum award of pension, compensation, or other entitlement payments. In that case, an assessment may be made against the lump sum award but shall be limited to the number of months the resident resided at the site prior to the month of receipt of the lump sum award.
(2)(b) RESIDENTS OF SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY HOUSING. A resident of a single room occupancy housing unit who has full−time, part−time, or seasonal employment or who is receiving supplemental security income, social security disability insurance payments or any other disability or pension benefits, shall be assessed is subject to a discretionary monthly program fee of 30% of monthly gross income or not to exceed $350.00400.00, whichever is less. The assessment fee may begin upon the resident’s receipt of a pay or benefit checkbe pro-rated to the remaining days of the month of entry and must be paid within five days of entry. All subsequent program assessment fees will be due and payable on the first of the month but not later than the fifth of the month. These fees may be paid fully at the beginning of the month or with two payments during the month, on the first day and the fifteenth day. The program manager will work with each veteran to collect appropriate fees.
(3) (c) RESIDENTS OF PERMANENT HOUSING UNITS. A resident of a permanent housing unit who has full-time, part-time, or seasonal employment or who is receiving supplemental security income, social security disability insurance payments or any other disability or pension benefits, shall be assessed a monthly program fee equal to that of the published US department of housing and urban development housing guidelines for low income or disadvantaged persons. The assessment fee may vary depending on the location and size of the unit.
Section 6. VA 13.055 is created to read:
VA 13.055 Aid to indigent veterans. (1) Assistance. Upon completion of an assessment conducted under s. VA 13.03 and pursuant to a written agreement between the department and the eligible veteran, the department may provide financial assistance to enable a veteran, who is currently a resident at a Wisconsin veterans home and who has insufficient monthly income and resources, as determined by the department, to pay for the difference between the income and resources and the cost of care provided at an assisted living facility established at a Wisconsin veterans home. (2) Eligibility. A member may be eligible to receive assistance under this section if the veteran meets all the following criteria:
(a) Meets the requirements of s.45.51 (2) (a) 1. or 2., Stats., s. VA 13.02 (1) and (2) (e). (b) Is assessed using the criteria in s. VA 13.03 excluding (5) and (7). (c) Has been a self-pay member in an assisted living facility at the Wisconsin veterans home for at least 24 months.
1. Notwithstanding this paragraph, in special circumstances this requirement may be temporarily waived for up to six consecutive months by the secretary of the department when a member would benefit more from being treated at the assisted living level of care but he or she lacks private financial resources and low demand for assisted living threatens to increase the existing member private pay rates to an unreasonable level.
(d) Has applied for any and benefits for which the member is eligible.
(e) Has assets of $2,000 or less.
(f) Agrees to submit an annual financial statement at the time of application and annually for financial verification, along with itemized statements received from a financial institution, investment company or broker and a complete copy of each federal and state income tax return filed for the two most recent tax years for divestment determinations and exempt assets and insurance.
(g) Agrees to turn over to the facility any monthly incomes and assets over the $2,000 limit to be prorated as determined to be appropriate by the department.
(h) Agrees to an asset search to be completed by or on behalf of the veterans home prior to admission into the aid to indigent veterans program and every 12 months following admission into the program.
(i) Must continue to meet all other requirements for care in an assisted living facility environment.
(j) Has not transferred or divested assets within the past 60 months or five years from the date of application.
Section 7. VA 13.06 is repealed.
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