Recovery of incorrect payments under certain public assistance programs
Wis. Stat. § 49.847
in effect(1) Subject to ss. 49.497 (1) and 49.793 (1), the department of health services, or a county, multicounty consortium, as defined in s. 49.78 (1) (br), or elected governing body of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band acting on behalf of the department, may recover benefits incorrectly paid under any of the programs administered by the department under this chapter.
(2) The department, county, multicounty consortium, as defined in s. 49.78 (1) (br), or elected governing body may recover an overpayment from a family or individual who continues to receive benefits under any program administered by the department under this chapter by reducing the family’s or individual’s benefit amount. Subject to s. 49.793 (1), the department may by rule specify other methods for recovering incorrectly paid benefits.
(3)
(a) Subject to ss. 49.497 (2) and 49.793 (2), and except as provided in par. (b), a county or elected governing body may retain a portion of an amount recovered under this section due to the efforts of an employee or officer of the county, tribe, or band, as provided by the department by rule.
(b) Any amount that Milwaukee County would otherwise be entitled to retain under par. (a) for the recovery of an amount under this section due to the efforts of a department employee or officer, or a county employee or officer under the management of the department, shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.435 (4) (L).
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/49.847Fetched: 10/7/2026