2020 Census Income Will Be Excluded From FoodShare Income

DHS Logo

ForwardHealth Community Partners

ForwardHealth logo

Updates for local agencies, community-based organizations, and providers who provide assistance to members of Wisconsin's health and nutrition public assistance programs.


2020 Census Income Will Be Excluded From FoodShare Income

For the 2020 census, the U.S. Census Bureau will be hiring people for temporary positions as part-time census takers and enumerators. To support the critical work of the census and promote these valuable work opportunities, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services received federal approval to exclude income earned from temporary employment in the 2020 census for FoodShare members, effective March 1, 2020.

This means that FoodShare members can work as census takers and enumerators and there will not be a negative impact to their current benefits. However, income earned by census workers before March 1, 2020, will be counted as earned income for FoodShare members.

Note: This policy change only impacts the FoodShare program. Temporary census income will continue to be counted for BadgerCare Plus, the Wisconsin Shares Child Care Subsidy Program, and Wisconsin Works (W-2). Income received for census work may impact eligibility for these programs. Income earned by census workers will continue to be excluded for members receiving Medicaid for the Elderly, Blind, or Disabled.