1.1.4 Eligibility Overview

This section gives the "big picture" of determining FS FoodShare eligibility.

Non-Financial Eligibility

The application process begins with a person contacting a local agency to request FoodShare benefits. The local agency must determine if s/he is a resident of the county. The local agency must also determine if s/he is a boarder, foster person, or resident of an institution. Some people are not eligible for FS because their food needs are already met.

Food Unit

The food unit is everyone who purchases and prepares food with the primary person, and family members. There are some exceptions regarding who must be included in the food unit based on relationship rules.

Individual

To be eligible for FS, an individual must be a US citizen or qualifying alien. A social security number is needed for each person who is requesting FS benefits. A food unit member cannot belong to more than one food unit with a few exceptions.

Work Programs

Almost everyone age 18-59 must register for and participate in work programs. Some exceptions are full-time students and parents caring for young children.

FS Group

The FS group includes everyone who will receive FS benefits.

Unearned Income

Add the FS group's unearned income and any unearned income that is deemed from an ineligible member. Some types of unearned income include: child a person's biological, step, or adopted son or daughter, regardless of age. support, unemployment compensation, Social Security, and W-2 Wisconsin Works payments.

Earned & Training Income

Add all the food unit’s gross earned income. Some types of earned income include: wages, tips, and self-employment income.

Room & Board Income

Calculate income the food unit receives from a boarder.

Gross Income Computation

The 200% FPL gross income test applies to all BB categorical households including EBD as a condition of eligibility. Most FoodShare groups are considered categorically eligible if their gross income is at or below 200% FPL and the language describing "JobNet" Services is issued to the group on a CARES generated notice of decision.

If the group is still eligible subtract the standard deduction, an earned income deduction (20% of the gross earned income), and a deduction for monthly medical expenses for elderly and disabled members.

Dependent Care

If a food unit member pays for child care or care for an adult a person who is 18 years old or older food unit member, s/he may receive a deduction for each dependent. The care must be necessary for the food unit member to look for work, work, or go to school.

Shelter & Utilities

Food units who pay shelter and utility costs may receive a shelter and utility deduction. The food group receives a Standard Utility Allowance based on the type(s) of utilities for which they are billed. Unless the food unit includes an elderly or disabled individual, a shelter deduction is allowed only if the total shelter expense exceeds half the income after all other deductions.

Income Test

FS groups that are not categorically eligible must pass the net income test based on net income limits and group size. Categorically eligible FS groups do not have to pass this test, however if net income exceeds the FS net income limit, FS groups of 3 or more people may not receive FS benefits. If the group’s net income equals or is less than the limit, the group might be eligible for benefits.

Allotment

An allotment is the amount of FS an eligible group receives. The allotment is calculated by looking at FS group size and total net income. Prorate the initial allotment if the FS group applies after the first of the month.

Review Date

The local agency must review a FS group's eligibility within certain time frames. Most FS food units are certified for 12 months. Food units that include a migrant any person who temporarily leaves a principal place of residence outside of his state and comes to this state for not more than 10 months in a year to accept seasonal employment in the planting, cultivating, raising, harvesting, handling, drying, packing, packaging, processing, freezing, grading, or storing of any agricultural or horticultural commodity in its unmanufactured state or seasonal farm worker, and food units who are homeless An individual who lacks a fixed and regular nighttime residence or an individual whose primary nighttime residence is:1) A supervised shelter designed to provide temporary accommodations (such as a welfare hotel or congregate shelter), 2) A halfway house or similar institution that provides temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized, 3) A temporary accommodation for not more than 90 days in the residence of another individual, or 4) A place not designed for, or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings (a hallway, bus station, a lobby, or similar places). are certified for 6 months. These food units are subject to reduced change reporting policy.

Food units that include only elderly, blind or disabled individuals (EBD Elderly, Blind, or Disabled) with no reported earnings are certified for 12 months and must report most changes within 10 days.

Benefit Amounts

FoodShare benefit amounts are based on household size and monthly net income after deductions. The lower the net income, the more FoodShare benefits a household may receive. Only families with very little or no monthly net income will receive the maximum amount of FoodShare benefits.

This page last updated in Release Number: 09-01

Release Date: 05/01/09

Effective Date: 05/01/09