This page provides information on FoodShare benefits increasing from January through June, additional benefits for March for some FoodShare members, temporary food benefits for children who usually get free or reduced price schools meals, ordering and paying for food online with QUEST or P-EBT cards, and temporary changes to FoodShare program rules.
FoodShare benefits will increase from January through June
If you are enrolled in FoodShare, you will get more money than usual put on your QUEST card each month starting in January and ending in June. You will get about 15% more than you usually get. You will get this extra money because of a law passed by the federal government in December to help people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
You do not need to do anything to get this extra money. In January, the extra money was automatically put on your QUEST card on January 24. You were sent a letter the week of January 25 telling you how much extra money you got for January. For February through June, the extra money will automatically be put on your QUEST card each month on the day money is usually put on your QUEST card. As a reminder, this day is based on the eighth digit of your Social Security number. You were sent a different letter in February telling you how much money you will get each month.
Note: This extra money is different from the additional benefits described below. For that, you get the maximum amount of benefits you can get for your family size. These benefits are provided if Wisconsin has declared a public health emergency and the federal government approves the benefits.
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.
Some FoodShare members got additional FoodShare benefits for March
If you are enrolled in FoodShare, you may have gotten additional FoodShare benefits for March to help during the COVID-19 pandemic. You got these additional benefits if you do not already get the maximum monthly benefit amount for the number of people in your household.
The benefits were put on your QUEST card on March 21. You were sent a letter the week of March 22 telling you that you got the additional FoodShare benefits and how much was put on your QUEST card. The amount was based on the number of eligible people in your household for March. The amount will be lower than the maximum amount if you are repaying benefits.
We are checking that everyone who should have gotten additional benefits got them. As a result, some members may get additional February benefits on April 11 and additional March benefits on May 9.
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: We are able to provide these benefits only if Wisconsin has declared a public health emergency and the federal government approves the benefits.
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| People in household | Maximum monthly benefit amount |
|---|---|
| 1 | $234 |
| 2 | $430 |
| 3 | $616 |
| 4 | $782 |
| 5 | $929 |
| 6 | $1,114 |
| 7 | $1,232 |
| 8 | $1,408 |
| Each additional person | $176 |
Temporary food benefits for students
2019-2020 school year
Due to school closures as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, families with a child or children eligible for free or reduced-price school meals for the 2019-2020 school year through the National School Lunch Program were able to get temporary food benefits in place of the school meals for March, April, May, and/or June 2020. These benefits are called Pandemic EBT or P-EBT.
We are no longer able to provide benefits for the 2019-2020 school year.
2020-2021 school year
In February 2021, the federal government approved Wisconsin's plan to provide Pandemic EBT benefits for the 2020-2021 school year.
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 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 or Walmart for help.
Amazon and Walmart provide more information about paying with your QUEST or P-EBT card on their websites. (Their websites refer to these cards as “SNAP EBT” or “EBT” cards.)
Note: At this time, the federal government has only approved Amazon and Walmart to accept online QUEST or P-EBT card payments. Other stores may be approved to accept these online payments in the future.
Other options
Some grocery stores offer other options for you to buy your food safely and easily. For example, at some locations, you can order your food online or over the phone, choose an EBT card payment option, and swipe your QUEST or P-EBT card when you pick up your order, either curbside or in store. Please check with your local grocery stores to see what options they offer.
Temporary changes to FoodShare program rules
We have temporarily changed FoodShare program rules for renewals, Six-Month Reports, and interviews.
Renewals
Renewals due in March, April, May, and June 2021 postponed for six months
We have postponed renewals that were originally due in March, April, May, and June 2021 for six months. If your renewal was due in those months, you will now need to complete the renewal process in September, October, November, or December 2021 instead. You will get a letter in the mail about 45 days before your renewal is due. You will also see a message in your ACCESS account.
Some FoodShare renewals are starting 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 will need to complete the renewal process this year. If you need to complete the renewal process, you will get a letter in the mail about 45 days before your renewal is due. You will also see a message in your ACCESS account.
Renewals cannot be postponed starting in 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.
Six-Month Reports
Six-Month Reports don’t need to be completed through June 2021
If you would have had a Six-Month Report due in March, April, May, or June 2021, you do not need to complete and submit the report.
Starting in July 2021, FoodShare members will once again need to complete and submit Six-Month Reports 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, you will get a paper report form in the mail and see a message in your ACCESS account.
Interviews
FoodShare applicants may not need to do an interview through June 30
If you are applying for or renewing your FoodShare benefits, make sure you give us as much information as possible. If we have all the information necessary to process your application or renewal, then you may not need to do an interview with your agency. This applies through June 30, 2021.
If you do not provide all the necessary information, your agency will contact you for more information.
