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FoodShare: Work Requirement

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Do I have to meet the FoodShare work requirement?

If you are a FoodShare member age 18 to 54, and you do not have any children under 18 living in your home, you may have to meet a work requirement to get benefits.

In your interview, your local agency will look at all of your information. If you need to meet the work requirement, you will get a letter in the mail from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS).

There are some reasons, called exemptions, that mean you may not have to meet the work requirement. For example, if you can't work due to your physical or mental health, you are pregnant, or if you are a Tribal member. Review the full list of exemptions on this page. If you think one of the exemptions describes you, call your local agency. You can also report an exemption using your ACCESS (ACCESS in Spanish) account.

How do I meet the FoodShare work requirement?

There are three main ways to meet the work requirement.

  1. Working or volunteering at least 80 hours per month.
  2. Participating in a work training program at least 80 hours per month. Work programs include FoodShare Employment and Training (FSET), Job Corps, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) training programs through your local job center, Transitional Jobs, and Transform Milwaukee Jobs.
  3. Working, volunteering, and taking part in a work program for a combined total of at least 80 hours each month.

What if something happens and I can't make 80 hours in a month?

If something happens in your life that you cannot control, like you get sick or your car breaks down and you can't meet the work requirement's 80 hours in a month, contact your local agency and explain that you had "good cause." If you have an approved good cause, then you can get benefits that month without it hurting your ability to continue getting FoodShare.

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  • Your personal health problems, or the health problems of others, caused you to miss hours.
  • You missed hours because of bad weather.
  • You did not have transportation to get to your job or work program.
  • You had a crisis or emergency (death, domestic violence, temporary workplace shutdown).
  • You had legal issues or a required court appearance.
  • You stopped attending a job or work program activity due to discrimination or unreasonable demands.
  • Your jobsite or work program site closed due to a site-specific holiday.
  • You missed hours to observe a religious holiday.

What are exemptions to the work requirement?

Exemptions are reasons why you don’t have to meet the work requirement under federal law. At your interview, your local agency will check to see if you have an exemption. Reach out to your local agency right away if you think you have an exemption. Or, report an exemption in your ACCESS (ACCESS in Spanish) account.

Three pregnant people sit in a circle at a prenatal class

You don't have meet the work requirement if:

  • You are pregnant.
  • You can't work due to your physical or mental health.
  • You are living with a child who is 18 years old or younger, even if the child is not eligible for FoodShare.
  • You are Tribal member.
  • You care for a child age 5 or younger who doesn’t live with you.
  • You care for a person who can’t care for themself (whether the person lives in or out of your home).
  • You are getting or applied for unemployment compensation.
  • You are in a school, training program, or college at least half-time.
  • You are in an alcohol or other drug abuse (AODA) treatment or rehabilitation program.

If you think one of these exemptions describes you, call your local agency to see if you are exempt from the FoodShare work requirement. You can also report an exemption using your ACCESS (ACCESS in Spanish) account.

What if I don't meet the work requirement?

If you do not meet the work requirement, you can only get three months of FoodShare benefits in a three-year period without meeting the work requirement if you don't have an exemption.

The current three-year period goes from January 2025 to December 2027.

How can I get FoodShare again?

Row of bagged lettuce in a grocery store

You can get FoodShare 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 for FoodShare. Contact your local agency if you have questions.

Learn more about restarting FoodShare

What is the FoodShare Employment and Training program?

Individual computer training between two adults.

FSET is a free program that can help you learn new job skills, get access to education and training, and find a job you are interested in.

Anyone in your household who gets FoodShare and is age 16 or over can take part in the FSET program, even if they do not have to meet the work requirement. If you or someone in your household have not yet been referred and would like take part in the program, contact your local agency.

  • Participating in FSET meets your work requirement.
  • Your FSET team supports you. They can help with job searches, resume writing, and interviews; teach you about things you will need to know for your job; help you get your GED or associates degree; assist you in finding trainings, apprenticeships, and certification programs; and even help pay for things like transportation, books, tools, and uniforms.
  • People who have used the FSET program have said it was really helpful, but you can’t get this free help unless you’re a FoodShare member.

Beyond FSET, there are other work training programs available to you that can help you meet the FoodShare work requirement, such as:

Additional questions about the FoodShare work requirement

If you need to meet the work requirement to get FoodShare, you need to start meeting it in the first full month of getting benefits.

Each FoodShare member who has to meet a work requirement is referred to FSET when they renew or apply for benefits. FSET is a free program that meets the work requirement and will help you learn new job skills, get access to education and training, and find a job you are interested in.

Beyond FSET, there are other work training programs available to you that can help you meet the FoodShare work requirement, such as:

Job and training opportunities are available through Wisconsin’s Job Centers, by going to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development’s website. More information about education and training opportunities is available through the Wisconsin’s Technical College System's website.

Additional resources

  • DHS has A Guide to the FoodShare Work Requirement, P-03606 available to you.
  • While related, the FoodShare work requirement is different than FoodShare basic work rules.
    • FoodShare applicants and members who are ages 16 to 59 need to follow basic work rules. When you complete a FoodShare application or renew your benefits, you are agreeing to follow the basic work rules.
    • Not all FoodShare members who have to follow basic work rules need to meet the work requirement to get benefits.

For further assistance

If you have questions about FoodShare or the work requirement, contact your local agency.

Glossary

 
Last revised October 29, 2025