FoodShare: Benefits for Non-Citizens
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Federal changes to FoodShare access for certain immigrants
On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed the federal budget reconciliation bill, also called the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (OBBBA), into law. OBBBA removes access to FoodShare benefits for people with certain immigration statuses.
New FoodShare applicants: Starting July 1, 2026, due to a change in federal law from OBBBA, FoodShare is no longer available to anyone with a newly non-qualifying immigration status.
Current FoodShare members: After July 1, 2026, due to a change in federal law from OBBBA, affected members who are no longer eligible will be contacted approximately two months before their renewal or after they report a change. The soonest members could lose their food assistance is if their benefits are set to be renewed in July 2026.
It is very important for members to know that we need to have their most up-to-date contact information to ensure we can communicate about any changes affecting their eligibility.
Current members enrolled in both Medicaid and FoodShare: Due to the change in federal law from OBBBA, people who are members of both FoodShare and Wisconsin Medicaid and who have a non-qualifying immigration status will no longer be eligible for FoodShare and Medicaid no later than October 1, 2026.
It is very important for members to know that we need to have their most up-to-date contact information to ensure we can communicate about any changes affecting their eligibility. Affected members who are no longer eligible will be contacted. DHS will automatically review eligibility for FoodShare when we review members’ eligibility for Medicaid, starting in July 2026.
List of immigration statuses that are no longer eligible for FoodShare after the federal policy change
The table below shows which immigration statuses are no longer eligible for FoodShare as directed in the federal law passed by Congress and signed by the President.
| Immigration status | Eligible before July 1, 2026 (pre-OBBBA) | Eligible after July 1, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Asylee | Yes | No |
| Conditional entrant | Yes | No |
| Foreign-born member of a Tribal Nation | Yes | No |
| Person granted withholding of removal | Yes | No |
| Person paroled for at least one year | Yes | No |
| Refugee, parolee, or special immigrant | Yes | No |
| Trafficking victim or their family | Yes | No |
| Trafficking victim with a T-1 visa | Yes | No |
Individuals should contact their local agency with any questions. If an existing member’s immigration status changes, or they become a U.S. citizen, they should contact their local agency as soon as possible.
What happens after someone stops getting benefits?
Members will stop getting their monthly benefits. They can still use any benefits left on their card.
People in the household who do not lose their eligibility under OBBBA will have their benefits recalculated based on the income, the number of people getting FoodShare, and other information. We will continue to put any benefits for eligible members in the household on the same card the household has previously used.
Food support resources are available to help people with getting food.
What can someone do if the immigration status that is on file for them is not correct?
The federal government requires that we verify immigration status as part of eligibility determinations. To do this, we use SAVE, an online service managed by USCIS.
If the immigration status on file for someone is incorrect, they should:
- Contact their local agency and ask to have their status re-verified. This process is called “additional verification” and can take up to 20 business days to finish.
- The person will need to have immigration documents showing their correct status.
- Contact USCIS if their immigration status cannot be verified through additional verification, or if their immigration documents need to be corrected or updated.
- The SAVE Records: Fast Facts for Benefit Applicants (PDF) has more information about how to update, correct, or replace immigration status documents.
- Someone’s FoodShare benefits cannot be delayed, terminated, or denied while waiting for SAVE verification results.