This page provides information about FoodShare and other food benefits during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Starting October 1, 2021, FoodShare applicants will need to do an interview
If you are applying for or renewing your FoodShare benefits, you will need to do an interview with your agency starting on October 1, 2021. During your interview, your agency will review your case information to make sure they have everything they need from you and that your information is correct.
In October 2021 Six-Month Report forms will start again
Starting in October 2021, FoodShare members will once again need to complete and submit Six-Month Report forms to let us know that the information we have on file for their household is correct. When it is time for you to complete your Six-Month Report form, you will get either a paper report form in the mail or an email alerting you that you have a new message in your ACCESS account.
FoodShare members are getting additional FoodShare benefits in October
If you are enrolled in FoodShare, you are getting additional FoodShare benefits in October to help during the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting in April, all FoodShare members are getting at least $95 in additional benefits each month. Some households will get more to bring their benefit amount to the maximum monthly benefit amount for their household size.
The benefits will be put on your QUEST card on October 17. You will be sent a letter the week of October 18 telling you that you got the additional FoodShare benefits and how much was put on your QUEST card.
We are also checking that everyone who should have received additional benefits got them. As a result, some members may get their August benefits on October 10 and their September benefits on November 14.
You can check the balance on your QUEST card at any time through the ebtEDGE website or ebtEDGE mobile app or by calling QUEST Card Service at 877-415-5164.
Note: Every year cost of living adjustments are made to FoodShare member benefits. Visit the FoodShare Wisconsin: Monthly Income Limits webpage to see allotment changes that are starting on October 1, 2021.
| People in household | Maximum monthly benefit amount |
|---|---|
| 1 | $250 |
| 2 | $459 |
| 3 | $658 |
| 4 | $835 |
| 5 | $992 |
| 6 | $1,190 |
| 7 | $1,316 |
| 8 | $1,504 |
| Each additional person | $188 |
Food benefits for students learning at home and young children
Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) is a federal program that provides food benefits to the families of children who may be experiencing greater need because of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are currently three different types of P-EBT available:
School P-EBT
School P-EBT offers food benefits for children who usually get free or reduced price meals at schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program, but who instead learned from home full or part-time.
- 2020-2021 School Year: Families who believe their child should have received benefits during the last school year should contact the P-EBT Support Team 1-833-431-2224 or
PEBTsupport@wisconsin.gov by October 8. - 2021-2022 School Year: DHS has received new guidance from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service and is currently working on a plan to submit for approval.
Pre-6 P-EBT
Pre-6 P-EBT provides food benefits for families in FoodShare with children who were under the age of 6 as of October 1 and who did not receive School P-EBT.
- 2020-2021 benefits were automatically generated and sent out earlier this year.
- DHS has received new guidance for the 2021-2022 Pre-6 P-EBT program and is currently working on a plan to submit for approval.
Summer P-EBT - 2021
The Summer P-EBT program helps families with eligible children whose access to free or reduced-price meals at school or other food benefits has been impacted by COVID-19. This program covers the time between the 2020-2021 school year and the 2021-2022 school year. Benefits were issued on August 21. Eligible children received a one-time payment of $375.
We are also checking that everyone who should have received Summer P-EBT benefits got them. As a result, some children may get their Summer P-EBT benefits on October 23.
Eligible children are:
- Children who received School P-EBT benefits during any month of the 2020-2021 school year
- Young children who received Pre-6 P-EBT benefits for at least one month of the 2020-2021 school year and live in a household that receives FoodShare benefits during at least one covered summer month (June, July, or August 2021)
- Children who were enrolled during May or June 2021 in free or reduced price meals at a school that participates in the National School Lunch Program and that met certain other program eligibility criteria, even if they did not receive School P-EBT benefits during the school year
Families with a current P-EBT card should remember to keep their cards because summer benefits may be loaded onto it.
To be notified of updates about any of the P-EBT programs, sign up to get P-EBT emails.
Ordering and paying for food online using your QUEST or P-EBT card
If you get FoodShare or have gotten Pandemic EBT benefits, you can order and pay for your food on Amazon’s and Walmart Grocery’s, ALDI's, and Woodman's websites using your QUEST or P-EBT card. There will be an EBT card payment option for you to enter your card details. You will need to enter your card PIN each time you check out.
You can only use your QUEST or P-EBT card to buy food. If you are buying other items at the same time, you need to use another form of payment to pay for those items.
Amazon delivers across the state and offers free shipping on eligible orders over a certain dollar amount. Walmart may deliver depending on where you live, or you may need to pick up your order at the store. In some cases, you may be charged a delivery fee. You will not be able to use your QUEST or P-EBT card to pay this fee. You will need to use another form of payment instead.
If you experience any issues when using your QUEST or P-EBT card to pay online, first make sure you have a balance on your card by going to the ebtEDGE website, using the ebtEDGE mobile app, or calling QUEST Card Service at 877-415-5164. If you have a balance and are still unable to complete your transaction, contact customer service at Amazon, Walmart, ALDI or Woodman's for help.
Currently, Amazon, Walmart, ALDI (with Instacart), and Woodman's grocery stores all accept QUEST or P-EBT cards for online orders on their websites. (Their websites refer to these cards as “SNAP EBT” or “EBT” cards.)
FoodShare renewal updates
Renewals due in March, April, May, and June 2021 postponed for 12 months
We have postponed renewals that were originally due in March, April, May, and June 2021 for a total of 12 months. If your renewal was due in those months, you will now need to complete the renewal process in March, April, May, and June 2022 instead. You will get either a letter in the mail or an email about 45 days before your renewal is due. You will also see a message in your ACCESS account.
Some FoodShare renewals started again in April 2021
Based on federal law, we can only postpone FoodShare renewals for a certain amount of time. As a result, members who had renewals postponed last year need to complete the renewal process this year. If you need to complete the renewal process, you will get a letter in the mail or an email about 45 days before your renewal is due. You will also see a message in your ACCESS account.
Renewals cannot be postponed starting July 2021
Starting in July 2021, any renewals originally due in July 2021 and months after that will need to be completed. We are not able to postpone those renewals under current federal law.
