FoodShare

The Food Stamp Program is known as FoodShare in Wisconsin.  FoodShare helps people with little or no income buy food.

US citizens and certain legal aliens and their families who are employed but have low incomes, are living on small or fixed incomes, have lost their jobs, are retired, or have disabilities and cannot work are eligible for FoodShare.  Recipients do not need to be enrolled in W-2 to qualify for FoodShare, but if they are able to work, they may be required to seek employment, take a job, or go to training.  People affected by natural disasters (tornado, flood, etc.) may also qualify.  Unless they are disabled, applicants must apply in person.

People who live together and buy food and eat together are considered a FoodShare household, even if not related.  However, two or more adults or families who live together but do not buy food and eat together may qualify as separate FoodShare households, even if related.

FoodShare benefits are based on household size and monthly net income after deductions.  Income for all household members is counted, including earnings from work, interest from savings, Social Security, disability payments, unemployment compensation, pensions, and child support.  From this gross monthly income total are subtracted rent or homeowner payments, utility bills, childcare costs, and other expenses to determine net monthly income.  There is no asset limit for FoodShare.

*Only families with very little or no monthly income will get the maximum benefit.

FoodShare benefits can only be used to buy food, and plants and seeds to grow food.  They cannot buy household supplies, paper products, soap or toothpaste, vitamins or supplements, alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, or foods that can be eaten in the store.  Wisconsin sales tax is not charged on eligible food items, but is charged on items that cannot be bought with a Quest card.  In stores with electronic scanners, eligible foods will automatically be sorted and charged to the Quest card while the rest of the purchases must be paid for in another way.

FoodShare benefits are automatically deposited electronically in the recipent's account each month and are spent using a plastic Quest card that is swiped like a debit card at checkout terminals in grocery stores.  Recipients enter a secret four-digit Personal Identification Number (PIN) to access benefits.  Some stores have special terminals to check the balance on a Quest card.  Unspent FoodShare benefits automatically carry over and can be spent in a later month.  However, a Quest card that has not been used for one year will have its benefits removed from the account.

Recipients who have lost, stolen or damaged cards, want to change their PIN, need to check their balance, or have questions or need help with their Quest cards can call the Customer Service Help Line at 877-415-5164, any time, day or night (800-947-3529 for hearing/speech impaired).  Replacement cards are mailed to the recipient's home the next business day.

Retailers with questions should call 800-230-0179.

See the FoodShare Wisconsin Eligibility and Benefits Handbook for more information about the FoodShare Program.

Click here for translations of the FoodShare handbook, the FoodShare application and other forms and documents in Hmong, Russian and Spanish.