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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.
CFR 273.10(a)(1)
An initial FoodShare allotment is prorated from the application filing date, unless the prorated 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 Initial Allotment for Migrant and Seasonal Farm Workers).
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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 prorate an allotment in the month following FoodShare case closure if closure is due to an agency delay [2.1.1 Initial Certifications (Applications)]. 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. |
CFR 273.10(a)(1)
The initial allotment is not prorated 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 SNAP 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 SNAP 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 SNAP, prorate benefits from the date of application. |
7 CFR 273.2(g)(2)
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. |
7 CFR 273.10 (e)(2)(ii)(C)
Categorically eligible food units that include one or two persons are eligible for a minimum $15 allotment, except for the initial prorated benefit which cannot be less than $10.
7 CFR 274.6
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 household misfortunate may include, but is not limited to, a natural disaster, power outage (including an outage resulting from failure of the household to pay a bill), or appliance failure.
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, and
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 (1.2.1.2 Request for Verification).
Replacement amounts should be for amount of the loss claimed by the food unit, up to the maximum issued for that month’s allotment, unless the allotment includes supplemented benefits, then the full amount issued will be replaced.
Note: The food unit could have purchased food prior to the disaster using FoodShare benefits from previous months.
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.
A worker must send a Notice of Denial from the DHS Forms Library to explain the reason for the denial because CWW does not generate the required notice. 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 supplement 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. |
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Example 8: Kevin is a single individual receiving FoodShare monthly in the amount of $170. Kevin completes the "Request for Replacement FoodShare Benefits” (F-00330) 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 issue Kevin $100 in replacement benefits. |
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Example 9: Mary and her daughter receive FoodShare benefits of $345 each month. There is a fire in their home on July 1 and Mary states that all of her food, valued at $400, was destroyed. They complete the "Request for Replacement FoodShare Benefits” (F-00330) and are eligible to have their July allotment replaced in the amount of $345. |
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Example 10: Steve and his child receive a monthly benefit of $340 in FoodShare on the 14th of every month. On August 3, Steve reports that his refrigerator stopped functioning on July 28. The refrigerator was not functioning for more than 24 hours before it was repaired, causing all of his cold and frozen foods to spoil. Steve claims to have lost $600 in food all of which was purchased with his FoodShare over the last two months. Steve is eligible for a replacement up to the maximum monthly amount. Steve’s July issuance is $340. Because that is the month of loss, he will receive that in a replacement benefit. |
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Example 11: Tim and Sue apply for FoodShare on September 25 and are found eligible for $25. During the application, Sue states that their house caught fire on August 31, which destroyed all of their food. Sue would like to receive FoodShare to cover her destroyed food. Sue is not eligible for a FoodShare replacement because the food destroyed was not purchased with the FoodShare benefits. |
For policy related to replacing an issuance as the result of a federally declared disaster see 5.3.1 Emergency FoodShare Benefits for Victims of Natural Disasters.
FoodShare benefits may be returned because the FoodShare assistance group voluntarily refunds them. Document in case comments appropriately when benefits are voluntarily returned.
7 CFR 273.11(j)
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,
Failure to comply with school attendance requirements (Learnfare), or
An act of fraud under that program.
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Example 12: A W-2 participant intentionally fails to comply with a W-2 requirement and is sanctioned $70 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.
7 CFR 274.2(d)
Benefit distribution is based on the eighth digit of the member's SSN. The schedule below is also posted on the FoodShare webpage.
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Eighth Digit of SSN |
Day of Month FoodShare Benefits will be available |
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0 |
2nd |
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1 |
3rd |
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2 |
5th |
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3 |
6th |
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4 |
8th |
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5 |
9th |
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6 |
11th |
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7 |
12th |
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8 |
14th |
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9 |
15th |
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: 18-01
Release Date: 01/08/2018
Effective Date: 01/08/2018
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