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