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FoodShare News and Updates

This page provides news to keep members up to date on what's happening related to FoodShare and P-EBT benefits.

Updates to the P-EBT Program

The Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) program 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. Benefits are put on families' existing QUEST cards or on special P-EBT cards if they don't have a QUEST card. Families are encouraged to keep their P-EBT card even when they finish using benefits, as benefits may be put on it in the future if they are eligible.

There are three kinds of P-EBT programs:

Per federal guidance, DHS is only able to offer P-EBT benefits when there is a federal Public Health Emergency (PHE) in effect. The COVID-19 PHE ended on May 11, 2023. DHS has begun the process of closing out the P-EBT programs. Families of eligible school-aged children will still receive benefits for any P-EBT eligible day they experience on or before May 11. Because the PHE ended partway through the month of May, children receiving P-EBT benefits because they are homeschooled or learning virtually full time and children who are eligible to receive Pre-6 P-EBT benefits will also have their May 2023 benefit amount adjusted.

Summer P-EBT benefits will still be issued to eligible school-age children for the summer of 2023 following the end of the PHE. However, due to federal law change, non-school-age children and students that opted for homeschooling or full time virtual learning due to COVID-19 concerns are not eligible to receive Summer P-EBT benefits in 2023.

If you have questions, email us at PEBTsupport@wisconsin.gov or call 833-431-2224.
 

Starting June 12 some temporary FoodShare eligibility policies are ending

During the COVID-19 emergency, there have been temporary benefit exemptions and policy suspensions in effect for some adult FoodShare members. Starting June 12, 2023, FoodShare applicants will not be able to use these exemptions. The temporary exemptions will continue for current members until their next renewal in July 2023 or later.

Some student eligibility exemptions ending

Under regular FoodShare rules, students who are enrolled in an institute of higher education at least half time are ineligible for FoodShare unless they meet an exemption. Since January 1, 2021, there have been two additional temporary eligibility exemptions for students 18 or older who:

  • Are eligible to participate in a state or federally funded work-study program during the school year, regardless of whether they actually participate in work study.
  • Have an expected family contribution of $0 during the school year (determined through submission of a Free Application for Federal Student Aid).

New applicants will no longer be able to qualify for FoodShare under these two temporary exemptions, starting June 12. Students may still qualify if they meet one of the permanent student eligibility exemptions linked above. The temporary rules will continue for current student members until their next renewal in July 2023 or later.

Drug testing requirement suspension ending

Regular FoodShare policy requires that individuals convicted of a drug-related felony involving the possession, use, or distribution of a controlled substance in the last five years, pass a drug test to get benefits. Individuals must only pass a drug test once, typically at application or when the drug felony conviction is initially reported.

Since April 17, 2020, that requirement has been suspended. Starting June 12, 2023, new FoodShare applicants convicted of a drug felony in the past five years will be subject to the testing requirement. Current members who enrolled after April 16, 2020, and who still have a drug felony conviction in the last five years, will need to submit a negative test result at their next renewal in July 2023 or later to keep getting benefits.

 

Ordering and paying for food online using your QUEST or P-EBT card

Illustration of a laptop with an image of an EBT card

If you get FoodShare or have gotten Pandemic EBT benefits, some stores allow you to shop and pay for your groceries online. Currently, the following stores all accept QUEST or P-EBT cards for online orders on their websites:

  • ALDI
  • Amazon
  • Capital Centre Market
  • Lou Perrine’s Gas and Grocery
  • Miller and Sons Supermarket
  • Meijer
  • Metro Market
  • Pick 'n Save
  • Ptacek's IGA
  • Sam’s Club Scan and Go
  • Schnuck’s Market
  • Target
  • Walmart
  • Whole Foods
  • Woodman’s Markets

(Store websites may refer to your QUEST or P-EBT card as a “SNAP EBT” or “EBT” cards.) Look for an EBT or SNAP card option when you go to pay and 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 eligible for FoodShare. If you are buying other items at the same time, you need to use another form of payment to pay for those items.

Some stores may offer delivery. If you are 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 the store where you are trying to make the purchase for help.

For assistance

If you have questions, contact the P-EBT Support Team.

Last revised May 16, 2023