ForwardHealth: Apply for Benefits
Wisconsin offers many programs that help with things like:
- Health care coverage
- Paying for food
- Child care costs
- Finding a job
Before you apply, answer a few questions to help determine which programs may be able to help you.
Information to have ready
When you apply, you should have certain information ready. This applies to these programs:
This is the information to have handy for each person who’s applying:
- Birthdate
- Address
- Social Security number
- U.S. citizenship or immigration status
- Marital status
- Names of people living in your home and how they are related
- Job income
- Job information, including employer's name, address, and phone number
- Other income (for example, Social Security or Unemployment Compensation)
For BadgerCare Plus, you should also have information ready about health insurance you may have through your employer.
How to apply
You can apply in one of these ways:
Online
Use the ACCESS website to apply. This is the fastest and easiest way to apply for benefits. You can apply for multiple programs at the same time when using ACCESS.
Fill out and mail a paper application for each program you are applying to:
- BadgerCare Plus Application Packet, F-10182 (also used for Family Planning Only Services)
- Wisconsin FoodShare Application, F-16019
- Wisconsin Medicaid for the Elderly, Blind, or Disabled Application Packet, F-10101
More resources
Have questions?
Find the contact information and office hours for your local county or tribal agency or aging and disability resource center (ADRC).
Fair hearings
You have the right to appeal a decision made about your program eligibility. Use the Request for Fair Hearing form.
Equal opportunity information
Get the USDA nondiscrimination statement on the Your Rights webpage, along with other nondiscrimination information.
More information on applying
You can find more information about applying for health, nutrition, and other programs in Guide to Applying for Wisconsin’s Health, Nutrition, and Other Programs, P-16091.
Other programs
If you need help with child care costs or getting a job, learn how Wisconsin Shares Child Care Subsidy and Wisconsin Works (W-2) could help.