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State of Wisconsin |
HISTORY |
The policy on this page is from a previous version of the handbook.
7.1.1.2 Initial Allotment for Migrant and Seasonal Farm Workers
7.1.1.3 Initial Allotments for Expedited Issuance
7.1.1.4 Minimum Allotment for 1 or 2 Person Food Units
7.1.1.5 Replacement Issuance for Destroyed Food
7.1.1.6 Voluntarily Refunded Food Stamp Coupons
7.1.1.7 Deny Benefit Increases Due To Penalties In Other Programs
7.1.1.8 EBT Benefit Issuance Calendar
Determine FS benefit allotment amounts using the information provided in Chapters 1-6.
An initial FS allotment is pro-rated from the application filing date, unless the pro-rated initial allotment amount is less than $10. Initial allotments of less than $10 are not issued. There is an exception for food units that include a migrant or seasonal farmworker and have continuing FS eligibility (7.1.1.2).
Ongoing auxiliary amounts of $1, $3, and $5 will continue to be rounded up to $2, $4, and $6.
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Example 1: Vera's case closed November 30. She reapplies on January 3 and is found eligible and will receive prorated benefits for January. |
Do not pro-rate an allotment in the month following FS case closure if closure is due to an agency delay (2.1.1). Benefits should go back to the 1st of the month.
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Example 2: Jeff receives notice of an appointment for a recertification interview in the last month of his certification period (July), but cannot attend the appointment because he is working. Jeff asks to reschedule the appointment, but the next appointment the FS worker has available is August 5th. Jeff completes the recertification interview on August 5th, and provides all verification by August 8th. Do not prorate benefits for August. Issue benefits from the first of the month. DOCUMENT in case comments the reason for the delayed recertification. |
The initial allotment is not pro-rated for food units that include a migrant or seasonal farm worker when at least one food unit member has participated in the FS program during the 30-day period before application. These food units have continuing eligibility for FS.
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Example 4: A migrant household arrives in Wisconsin from Texas on April 20 and applies for FS. Their FS case closed in TX on March 31. Their first month of eligibility (April) is not their initial month. Consider it a continuation of benefits and issue a full allotment for April. |
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Example 5: A migrant household arrives in Wisconsin on May 5 and applies for FS. Their case closed on March 31 in Texas and they did not receive FS benefits in April or May. The initial month of eligibility is May. Since it has been more than 30 days since the last receipt of FS, pro-rate benefits from the date of application. |
FS groups that have an application filing date after the 15th of a month and are found eligible for expedited issuance must receive a combined allotment for months 1 and 2. This also applies to cases that are eligible for expedited benefits for month 1, but not month 2. As long as the filing date is after the 15th of the month, issue a combined allotment for both month 1 and 2.
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Example 6: Laurie applies for FS on May 16. She has no income and meets expedited eligibility requirements. Laurie will be starting a job in June that will result in either less FS or loss of FS eligibility. Laurie’s worker issues benefits for May and June. Verifications other than "identity" are waived. |
Categorically eligible food units that include 1 or 2 persons are eligible for a minimum $16 allotment, except for the initial pro-rated benefit.
Replace food purchased with FoodShare benefits and destroyed in a household misfortune up to the actual amount destroyed but not more than the monthly allotment actually issued to the household that month, whichever is less.
A replacement issuance shall be provided only if a household:
Reports the loss orally or in writing to the agency within 10 days of the date the loss occurred.
Completes a "Request for Replacement FoodShare Benefits” (F-00330). This can be completed and dropped off at the agency, mailed, or faxed to the agency, but must be received by the agency within 10 days of when the household reports the loss.
Note: The agency must include the 10 day due date, and consequences for failure to return this form timely. A manual verification request form should be issued to meet this requirement. (See 1.2.1.2 Request for Verification)
A replacement issuance must be provided to the household within 10 days after report of the loss. Verify the household misfortune through the fire department, police department, a community organization such as the Red Cross, a collateral contact or home visit, etc.
Deny or delay a replacement issuance if available documentation indicates that the household's request for replacement appears to be fraudulent.
Inform the household of its right to a fair hearing to contest the denial or delay of a replacement issuance. Replacements shall not be made while the denial or delay is being appealed.
A household may experience such a loss more than once. There is no limit to the number of replacement issuances.
Note: Ensure you use the "905" replacement auxiliary code when issuing replacement benefits for destroyed food. This is essential for tracking purposes.
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Example 7: Joyce received the maximum allotment for July, the month of the disaster. The food that Joyce stored in her basement freezer that was purchased with June benefits was also destroyed. Joyce is requesting a replacement for the food purchased in June and July. Joyce is eligible for replacement benefits up to the max allotment for July, but not for the food purchased with the June benefit. |
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Example 8: Kevin is a single individual receiving FoodShare monthly in the amount of $200. Kevin completes the Affidavit of destroyed food stating his food spoiled due to a power outage on July 16, and he lost $100 worth of food purchased with his July FS benefits. The worker would verify the power outage with the Power Company and his replacement benefit amount would be $100. The worker would look at the CWW EBT Transaction Detail screen to ensure he has spent $100 prior to the power outage date in July. |
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Example 9: Mary and her daughter receive the maximum FS benefit for a family of 2 of $367. They have a fire on July 17th and she states all her food was destroyed. She had just gone to the grocery store the day before and used all her benefits. They complete the affidavit and are eligible to have their July allotment replaced for the amount of $367. |
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Example 10: Steve and his child receive $367 a month in FS. There is a power outage on the 10th of the month and the food in his refrigerator that he purchased with current months FS has spoiled and he requests full replacement. However, the worker checks the "EBT Transaction Detail Screen" in the CWW and sees he only spent $200 worth of his current month's benefits on food. His replacement will be for $200. He still has a monthly benefit of $167 in his account that he could still use after the power outage was fixed. |
For policy related to replacing an issuance as the result of a disaster see 5.3.1.
Return to DHS any food stamp coupons refunded to you by an FS group at your earliest opportunity. Void the stamps and send them to Sheila Kurt at P.O. Box 2057, Madison, WI 53701-2057. List the household, case number, benefit number or month of benefit, amount returned and reason for return.
Food stamp coupons may be returned because the FS group refunds them or the coupons were found. Document the case record appropriately.
Do not increase a FS group's allotment when an individual's cash benefits under any other federal, state or local means-tested public assistance program are reduced for failure to perform an act required by the other program. Specifically:
Failure to comply with work programs, or
Failure to comply with school attendance requirements (Learnfare), or
An act of fraud under that program.
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Example 11: A W-2 participant intentionally fails to comply with a W-2 requirement and is sanctioned $70.00 for non-participation. The W-2 group will only receive a check for $603.00; however, the full amount of $673 must be budgeted for FS. |
Means-tested public assistance programs include, but are not limited to, W-2 or the Refugee Assistance Program. SSI is not considered a means-tested program for these requirements.
Do not apply this policy if the FS group, or a new individual in the FS group, is determined ineligible for the means-tested program at application. The household must already be receiving benefits, and the failure to comply must result in a reduction, suspension, or termination of those benefits.
No increase in the FS allotment should be made for the duration of the penalty period. If other reductions or changes to the other program's benefits occur during the penalty period, which are unrelated to the failure to comply, the FS allotment must be adjusted accordingly.
If the person or FS group is subject to a penalty period in both the FS program and another program, apply the FS penalty period first. If the other program's penalty period is longer, that penalty will continue after the FS period is completed. The prohibition on increasing benefits follows a person who moves from one household to another.
Benefit distribution is based on 8th digit of your Social Security number.
See http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/FoodShare/ebt/general/usingquest.htm for the calendar.
If there has been no EBT card activity for at least 365 days any monthly benefits that are older than 365 days will be expunged. The expungement occurs only for benefits that were issued more than 365 days in the past. Expungement may occur over multiple months if card inactivity continues (See Process Help 80.7).
This page last updated in Release Number: 15-01
Release Date: 01/22/15
Effective Date: 01/22/15
Notice: The content within this manual is the sole responsibility of the State of Wisconsin's Department of Health Services (DHS). This site will link to sites outside of DHS where appropriate. DHS is in no way responsible for the content of sites outside of DHS.
Publication Number: P-16001