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
Other news
Replacement benefits available
FoodShare members and/or Summer EBT recipients who lost food due to recent storms or power outages can request replacement benefits within 10 days of the food loss.
Log in to ACCESS (ACCESS in Spanish) and click “Food Benefits Replacement Request” in the left menu. You can call your agency to request them by phone, or submit a request by mail. | July 27, 2026
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
Change 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
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
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