3.4.1 Dual Membership and Duplicate Benefits

7 CFR 273.3(a)

FNS Memo 12/18/14

A person can be in more than one food unit but may only receive benefits in one assistance group at a time, except for residents of a shelter for victims of domestic violence if specific criteria are met (see Section 3.2.1.5.4 Shelters for Victims of Domestic Violence).

Persons moving to Wisconsin from another state are not eligible to receive duplicate FoodShare benefits. States typically issue benefits on either a calendar- or fiscal month-cycle. A fiscal month cycle provides benefits from a date in one month to a corresponding date in the next month. Some states, such as California (Fresno), Massachusetts, Nevada, and South Dakota, issue on a fiscal month cycle. Illinois issues benefits by calendar month (first day through the last day of the month) and by fiscal month (16th through 15th). Wisconsin issues on a calendar month cycle.

IM workers should contact the other state to verify the SNAP (FoodShare in Wisconsin) benefit end date. If there is an indication that an adult food unit applicant or member received SNAP benefits in another state, the IM agency must also verify the number of countable months or time limited benefits (TLBs) the individual received in the other state prior to certification (see Section 3.17.1.9 Countable Months From Another State).

Duplicate participation checks at application and renewal must not delay processing of the application or renewal beyond regular timeliness processing standards.

Example 1

In early October, a SNAP assistance group moves to Wisconsin from Illinois. Prior to the move, Illinois issued the group's SNAP benefits on a fiscal month cycle. It was an allotment for September 16 through October 15. The assistance group applies in Wisconsin on October 10. The last day the group is considered an Illinois SNAP group is October 15. If determined eligible, the first day the group would receive Wisconsin FoodShare would be October 16.

When a person from Puerto Rico establishes Wisconsin residence and applies for FoodShare, treat their Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP) as follows:

The NAP benefit is not income, and
FoodShare can be issued in Wisconsin even if NAP was issued during the same month as the FoodShare application. NAP benefits cannot be used in the United States, so there is no duplication of benefits if FoodShare is issued for the same month as NAP.

This page last updated in Release Number: 22-02
Release Date: 08/01/2022
Effective Date: 08/01/2022