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Information About Caretaker Supplement (CTS)

Wisconsin’s Caretaker Supplement (CTS) is a cash benefit for parents who get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments and who meet the program rules.

Benefits

CTS benefits are $275 per month for the first eligible child and $165 per month for each additional eligible child. CTS benefits are paid to SSI members as part of their monthly state SSI benefit.

Applying

You should apply for CTS if you are a parent who:

  • Gets SSI
  • Has limited income and assets
  • Are living with and caring for your minor children

How to apply for CTS

 Phone

Call your local or Tribal agency during their office hours.

 Mail

Fill out and mail in the paper Caretaker Supplement Application, F-22571.

 In person

Go to your local or Tribal agency during their office hours.

At this time, you can apply online through ACCESS (ACCESS in Spanish) only when you are applying for health care or FoodShare benefits in ACCESS. When you are applying for health care or FoodShare using ACCESS, we will ask if you want to apply for CTS if it looks like you meet the program rules.

If you already get FoodShare, Medicaid, or child care benefits, you should contact your local or Tribal agency to apply for CTS. You cannot apply for CTS at your local Social Security office.

Eligibility

  • You must be getting a Wisconsin SSI payment.
  • Your children must meet income and asset requirements.
  • Your household must meet some nonfinancial criteria, such as Wisconsin residency.
  • You cannot get CTS benefits for any of your children who are also receiving SSI.
  • If your children have two parents in the household, both parents must be getting SSI.
  • Any parent who gets CTS benefits must cooperate with the child support agency to ensure that any absent parent is paying child support.
  • If your SSI benefits end, your CTS benefits will also end.

Impact on other benefits

CTS benefits will not affect your health care benefits, but they could affect the amount of FoodShare that you get. However, your CTS benefit will be more than any decrease in your monthly FoodShare amount.

Resources

Glossary

 
Last revised April 21, 2025