FoodShare News and Updates
This page provides news to keep members up to date on what's happening related to FoodShare and P-EBT benefits.
Extra FoodShare benefits ended February 2023
Starting in 2020, FoodShare members got extra benefits each month because of a federal program during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those extra benefits were provided separately from your regular monthly benefits. The federal government ended that program. Starting March 1, 2023, you only got your regular FoodShare benefits.
For example: In February 2023, if you got $281 in regular FoodShare benefits plus $95 in extra COVID-19 FoodShare benefits, you would have got a total of $376 in FoodShare benefits. Starting in March 2023, you no longer got the extra $95 in benefits. Instead, you only got $281 in regular FoodShare benefits.
More information
You can find your FoodShare benefits information:
- In your ACCESS account or the MyACCESS mobile app
- In your “About Your Benefits” letter
- By contacting your agency
Your FoodShare benefit amount is based on how many people live in your household, your income, your bills, and other factors. You may be able to get more FoodShare benefits if you or someone in your household has to pay bills, like rent, utilities, child care, or child support. You may also be able to get more FoodShare benefits if you or someone in your household is 60 years old or older, is blind, or has a disability and that person is paying medical bills out of pocket.
If you have bills you have not reported, or if your bills have changed, let us know and your FoodShare amount may be updated. You can also report changes in your household or income. To review or update the information on file, log in to your ACCESS account or contact your local agency. Your agency may need proof of the changes you report. You will get a letter letting you know if proof is needed.
If you need additional help with food, visit the 211 Wisconsin website or call 877-947-2211 to find out about resources in your area. You can also visit the ACCESS website and click on "See if you can get help." You can also contact your local agency to see what other programs you might qualify for.
FoodShare households may be able to utilize other programs of assistance such as Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program, free and reduced price school meals, the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), or the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). Local or regional food pantries may also be able to help with members with food supplies.
FoodShare members got extra FoodShare benefits in January and February
If you were enrolled in FoodShare, you got extra FoodShare benefits in January and February to help during the COVID-19 pandemic. All FoodShare members got at least $95 in additional benefits each month. Some households got more to bring their benefit amount to the maximum monthly benefit amount for their household size.
These additional FoodShare benefits were placed on your QUEST card on the following dates:
- January 21, and a letter telling you about your extra benefits was sent in late January/early February.
- February 19, and a letter telling you about these extra benefits was sent the week of February 20.
We are also checking that everyone who should have received extra benefits got them. As a result:
- Some members got their January benefits on their cards on March 12.
- Some members may get their February benefits on their cards on April 9.
February was the last month that all FoodShare members got these extra benefits. A small number of people who miss benefits in January or February will get those in March and April, but most people won't get any extra benefits after February. A letter was sent in January about this change.
You can check the balance on your QUEST card at any time in the MyACCESS app, or through the ebtEDGE website or ebtEDGE mobile app or by calling QUEST Card Service at 877-415-5164.
| People in household | Maximum monthly benefit amount |
|---|---|
| 1 | $281 |
| 2 | $516 |
| 3 | $740 |
| 4 | $939 |
| 5 | $1,116 |
| 6 | $1,339 |
| 7 | $1,480 |
| 8 | $1,691 |
| Each additional person | $211 |
Food benefits for students and young children
Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) is a federal program that provides food benefits to the families of children who may be experiencing greater need because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Benefits are put on families' existing QUEST cards or on special P-EBT cards if they don't have a QUEST card. Families are encouraged to keep their P-EBT card even when they finish using benefits, as benefits may be put on it in the future if they are eligible.
There are three kinds of Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) programs:
- School P-EBT
- Pre-6 P-EBT
- Summer P-EBT
Ordering and paying for food online using your QUEST or P-EBT card
If you get FoodShare or have gotten Pandemic EBT benefits, some stores allow you to shop and pay for your groceries online. Currently, the following stores all accept QUEST or P-EBT cards for online orders on their websites:
- ALDI
- Amazon
- Capital Centre Market
- Lou Perrine’s Gas and Grocery
- Miller and Sons Supermarket
- Meijer
- Metro Market
- Pick 'n Save
- Ptacek's IGA
- Sam’s Club Scan and Go
- Schnuck’s Market
- Target
- Walmart
- Whole Foods
- Woodman’s Markets
(Store websites may refer to your QUEST or P-EBT card as a “SNAP EBT” or “EBT” cards.) Look for an EBT or SNAP card option when you go to pay and enter your card details. You will need to enter your card PIN each time you check out.
You can only use your QUEST or P-EBT card to buy food eligible for FoodShare. If you are buying other items at the same time, you need to use another form of payment to pay for those items.
Some stores may offer delivery. If you are charged a delivery fee, you will not be able to use your QUEST or P-EBT card to pay this fee. You will need to use another form of payment instead.
If you experience any issues when using your QUEST or P-EBT card to pay online, first make sure you have a balance on your card by going to the ebtEDGE website, using the ebtEDGE mobile app, or calling QUEST Card Service at 877-415-5164. If you have a balance and are still unable to complete your transaction, contact customer service at the store where you are trying to make the purchase for help.
For Assistance
If you have questions, contact the P-EBT Support Team.
- 833-431-2224
- PEBTsupport@wisconsin.gov