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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 One or Two Person Food Units
7.1.1.5 Replacement Issuance for Destroyed Food
7.1.1.6 Voluntarily Refunded Benefits Amount
7.1.1.7 Deny Benefit Increases Due to Penalties in Other Programs
7.1.1.8 EBT Benefit Issuance Calendar
Determine FoodShare benefit allotment amounts using the information provided in Chapters 1-6.
An initial FoodShare 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 farm worker and have continuing FoodShare 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 FoodShare 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 renewal 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 IM worker has available is August 5. Jeff completes the renewal interview on August 5, and provides all verification by August 8. Do not prorate benefits for August. Issue benefits from the first of the month. DOCUMENT in case comments the reason for the delayed renewal. |
The initial allotment is not pro-rated for food units that include a migrant or seasonal farm worker when at least one FoodShare assistance group member has participated in the FoodShare program during the 30-day period before application. These food units have continuing eligibility for FoodShare .
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Example 4: A migrant food unit arrives in Wisconsin from Texas on April 20 and applies for FoodShare. Their FoodShare case closed in Texas 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 food unit arrives in Wisconsin on May 5 and applies for FoodShare. Their case closed on March 31 in Texas and they did not receive FoodShare 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 FoodShare , pro-rate benefits from the date of application. |
Food units 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 one and two. This also applies to cases that are eligible for expedited benefits for month one, but not month two. As long as the filing date is after the 15th of the month, issue a combined allotment for both month one and two.
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Example 6: Laurie applies for FoodShare 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 FoodShare or loss of FoodShare eligibility. Laurie’s IM worker issues benefits for May and June. Verifications other than "identity" are waived. |
Categorically eligible food units that include one or two 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 FoodShare assistance group that month, whichever is less.
A replacement issuance shall be provided only if a food unit:
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 food unit 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 FoodShare assistance group within 10 days after report of the loss. Verify the 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 food unit's request for replacement appears to be fraudulent.
Inform the food unit 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 food unit 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 FoodShare benefits. The IM worker would verify the power outage with the Power Company and his replacement benefit amount would be $100. The IM 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 FoodShare benefit for a family of two 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 FoodShare. There is a power outage on the 10th of the month and the food in his refrigerator that he purchased with current months FoodShare has spoiled and he requests full replacement. However, the IM 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.
FoodShare benefits may be returned because the FoodShare assistance group voluntarily refunds them. Document in case comments appropriately when benefits are voluntarily returned.
Do not increase a FoodShare assistance 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; however, the full amount of $673 must be budgeted for FoodShare. |
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 food unit, or a new member in the food unit, is determined ineligible for the means-tested program at application. The food unit 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 FoodShare 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 FoodShare allotment must be adjusted accordingly.
If the person or food unit is subject to a penalty period in both the FoodShare program and another program, apply the FoodShare penalty period first. If the other program's penalty period is longer, that penalty will continue after the FoodShare period is completed. The prohibition on increasing benefits follows a person who moves from one food unit to another.
Benefit distribution is based on the eighth digit of the member's Social Security number. Please see the FoodShare webpage for a schedule of when benefits are distributed.
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: 16-01
Release Date: 05/31/2016
Effective Date: 05/31/2016
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