FoodShare: News for Members
Opt-in to get helpful texts and email reminders
Between June 22 and July 13, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) sent Medicaid and FoodShare members emails and text messages asking them to provide consent to receive future texts/emails.
You may have received more than one text or email even after you responded. If you opted in to email, text, or both, we received your response. Thank you. We apologize for the duplicate messages.
If you did not respond to any messages, you have been opted out of most DHS texts and emails. If you respond to an old text or email, you will receive the message “the keyword you specified was not recognized.”
You can still opt-in to receive helpful texts and emails about your Medicaid coverage or FoodShare benefits. Log in to ACCESS (ACCESS in Spanish) and select Update Contact Info. Here, you can choose the types of messages you would like to receive and update other contact details.
Learn more about texts and emails from DHS
Deadline extended: FoodShare members in two counties have more time to ask for benefits to replace food lost in the July 3 storms
FoodShare members living in Racine County and Walworth County have until July 23 to request replacement benefits because they lost food due to severe storms and power outages on July 3.
Members in other counties and Summer EBT recipients have 10 days from the day they lost food to request replacement benefits.
You can make your request in whatever way is easiest for you:
- Online: Log in to your ACCESS (ACCESS in Spanish), select Food Benefits Replacement Request in the left menu, and answer a few questions about your food loss.
- By phone or in person: Contact your local or Tribal agency and tell them you need replacement benefits.
- By mail or fax: Complete a Request for Replacement FoodShare and/or Summer EBT Benefits form, F-00330 and submit it to your local or Tribal agency.
Food benefit replacements will be only approved for the amount that was lost because of the storms. The amount cannot be more than your monthly household FoodShare.
Other news
New FoodShare utility allowances start July 1
New utility allowances are now being used for FoodShare. Utility allowances are amounts deducted from your household income when your benefits are being figured out. They represent how much you pay for things like heat, water, and electricity.
Many members will see an increase in FoodShare. Check now via ACCESS (ACCESS in Spanish) | July 1, 2026
Summer EBT benefits are back
Summer EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) was issued to known families with qualifying children on June 6. A one-time benefit of $120 was added to QUEST cards for each eligible child.
Families must spend the amount within 122 days of the issue date, wherever FoodShare is accepted. If your family got Summer EBT, you were sent a letter with details. | June 6, 2026
Changes to the FoodShare work requirement in WI
Last year federal rules expanded the work requirement for some FoodShare members.
The age range of affected members grew to 18-64, and it added parents whose children at home who are age 14 and older. Your local agency will check if you need to meet the work requirement at your next interview. | June 1, 2026
Restart FoodShare by meeting a work requirement
Lost FoodShare due to not meeting the work requirement?
You can get benefits again by meeting the work requirement for 30 days, showing you will meet the work requirement in 30 days, having an exemption, or having good cause. You may need to reapply to get benefits again. | June 1, 2026
Prepare for your next FoodShare interview
Did you know that you must complete an interview when you apply for FoodShare?
You can call or wait for your local or Tribal agency to call you to set up your interview. The interview will be done by phone or you can also ask to meet in person. To prepare, we suggest you bring documents that prove your answers. | June 1, 2026
Change to QUEST card out-of-state spending
Starting March 1, 2026, the security settings on all QUEST cards will default to only allow spending in Wisconsin and the bordering states of Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, and Minnesota.
Members can still use their FoodShare in other states, they’ll just need to change the security settings on their card. | February 18, 2026