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State of Wisconsin |
HISTORY |
The policy on this page is from a previous version of the handbook.
7 CFR 273.2(j)(2)
In its traditional form, categorical eligibility conveys FoodShare eligibility based on a food unit’s receipt of cash assistance from Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant (such as, but not limited to, W-2 or Child Care), or state-run General Assistance (GA) programs (cash assistance for low-income individuals).
Categorically Eligible Food Units:
A categorical food unit is defined as all adult food unit members receiving any of the following:
Categorical food units have no gross, net, or asset test.
Since the 1996 welfare reform law, states have been able to expand categorical eligibility beyond its traditional bounds. This is known as broad-based categorical eligibility (BBCE).
Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility (BBCE)
Most food units are considered broad-based categorically eligible if their gross income is at or below 200% FPL and the language describing "Job Center of Wisconsin" services, a partially TANF-funded service that all food unit members are authorized to receive, is issued to the food unit on a CWW generated notice of decision. The following text will appear on FoodShare approval and change notices.
"'Job Center of Wisconsin' (formerly known as JobNet) is available to you. Job Center of Wisconsin is the single largest source of job openings in Wisconsin, you can access Job Center of Wisconsin via the internet at http://www.wisconsinjobcenter.org/ or on touch screen monitors at your local job center. To locate a Job Center of Wisconsin nearest you call 1-888-258-9966."
Broad-based categorically eligible food units have no asset test.
Loss of Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility
The food unit is not considered to be broad-based categorically eligible if one of the following occurs:
Food units that contain a member who is sanctioned for an IPV or drug felony continue to be eligible to receive TANF Job Center of Wisconsin services so assets are excluded and not deemed. The sanctioned food unit member's income continues to be deemed. The food unit is no longer considered categorically eligible so it must be tested using the regular SNAP program gross and net income limits (see Section 8.1.1 Income Limits for those income limits).
If the food unit's verified gross income goes over 200% of FPL, the case will close. A negative notice will be sent with reason code 013: Income reported exceeds the program eligibility standard.
Broad-based categorically eligible FoodShare assistance groups with zero benefit allotment amounts will be denied. The denied or closed FoodShare assistance group can file a new application and complete an intake interview if they wish to be reconsidered for FoodShare eligibility.
CWW will deny or close the FoodShare benefits automatically when the FoodShare assistance group's adjusted income is greater than the allotment amount. CWW will issue a closure notice that will include reason code 557: "You are not eligible to receive FoodShare benefits this month because at your net income your allotment would be zero."
Except during an initial month, all eligible one- and two-person food units shall receive the minimum $20 allotment, when the gross income is below 200% FPL, and the net adjusted income exceeds the net income limit.
A denied or closed FoodShare assistance group can file a new application and complete an intake interview if they wish to be reconsidered for FoodShare eligibility.
FoodShare assistance groups with zero FoodShare benefits in their initial benefit month and an allotment greater than zero in the second month will be denied in the first month and opened in the second month. The 12-month FoodShare certification period will begin the month of application even though the first month may be denied because the allotment amount is zero. If the benefit calculation is zero for the first two months, the application will be denied.
| Example 1 | Barry applied for FoodShare in August after he lost his job. Barry received $0 for August (due to excess income) and was found eligible for $98 in September. His certification period starts in August. |
| Example 2 | Tiffany applied for FoodShare on March 28. Tiffany was found eligible but received $0 dollars for March because her benefits were prorated. In April, she is eligible for $55. Her certification period starts in March and her renewal will be due in February of the next year. |
If the FoodShare benefit is reduced to zero for the month between the benefit determination month and the month transitional FoodShare benefits (TFS) begin, the case will remain open (see Section 5.1.1 Transitional FoodShare Benefits (TFS)).
| Example 3 | Donna accepted a job in July and her last W-2 check was issued in August. Her TFS benefit starts in September. Her income from her new job impacted her August allotment. The August allotment was reduced to zero. However, the TFS benefit amount is based on the July budget minus the W-2 payment amount. The case remains open during the month of August and her TFS benefits start in September using the July information. |
Food units that include an elderly, blind or disabled member with gross income over 200% of the FPL must be tested for FoodShare using the regular SNAP rules. Under the regular SNAP rules, these food units have no gross income limit, but must have net income that does not exceed 100% FPL and countable assets that do not exceed the asset limit of $3,750 (see Section 8.1.1.2 Regular SNAP Program Income Limits).
This page last updated in Release Number: 22-02
Release Date: 08/01/2022
Effective Date: 08/01/2022
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