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State of Wisconsin |
Release 24-01 |
7 CFR 273.12(a)(5)(v)
All food units are subject to simplified reporting rules. Simplified reporting rules mean food units are only required to report three things during their certification period outside of their SMRF and renewal:.
130% FPL Reporting
The food unit must report by the 10th of the following month when the assistance group's (see Section 3.3.1 Food Unit/FoodShare Assistance Group/Relationships) gross monthly income received exceeds 130% FPL (see Section 8.1.1 Income Limits).
The gross monthly income limit is based on the assistance group size that existed at the time of its most recent certification action, regardless of any subsequent changes in the size of the assistance group.
| Example 1 | Mike is a FoodShare member that was certified with income under 130% FPL. Mike’s hours and rate of pay increase in the middle of January. Mike’s total gross monthly income on the paychecks he received in January did not put the assistance group over 130% FPL. Mike’s pay dates for February are February 13 and February 27. When Mike receives his paycheck on February 27, the assistance group's total gross monthly income received is now over 130% FPL. The change in income must be reported by March 10. |
| Example 2 | Ted is receiving FoodShare and is certified under 130% FPL. Ted starts a new job on December 30. He receives his first paycheck on January 17. His gross income received from his first paycheck puts his assistance group over 130% FPL. Ted must report the change in income by February 10. |
| Example 3 | Kate, Trina, and Randy are a food unit of three. Kate is an ineligible student (gross deemer). Trina and Randy are both eligible for and receiving FoodShare (assistance group of two). If the food unit’s gross monthly income exceeds 130% of the FPL for an assistance group of two people, the food unit must report the change by the 10th of the following month. |
Anticipated receipt of income or work hours is not required to be reported, even if the anticipated income is expected to put the assistance group over the gross monthly income 130% FPL. A reported change in income can only be used in the budget after it is received.
| Example 4 | Reggie reports during the interview that he expects to start a new job next month. Because the job has not started and a paycheck has not been received, no income is to be budgeted. Reggie is required to report when the income they receive from the job puts the assistance group's income above 130% FPL. |
Once an assistance group has been certified eligible with a gross monthly income above 130% FPL, they have no further income reporting requirements until the next SMRF or renewal.
| Example 5 | Marlo is receiving FoodShare and is certified at 131% FPL. Two months later Marlo changes jobs and her gross monthly income is now at 240% FPL. Since Marlo was certified over 130%, Marlo does not need to report her income change until her next Six-Month Report Form (SMRF) or renewal. |
ABAWDs
ABAWDs must report by the 10th of the following month when their work hours fall below 80 hours per month (see Section 3.17.1.2.1 Definition of Working for Foodshare Work Requirement for Abawds).
Substantial Lottery or Gambling Winning
Any food unit member that receives a substantial lottery or gambling winning must report by the 10th of the following month (see Section 6.1.1.1 Substantial Lottery or Gambling Winning).
However, if any change is reported or becomes known to the agency, it must be acted upon. When the information is not verified upon receipt, it may be appropriate to request clarification of the change.
See Section 5.1.1 Transitional FoodShare Benefits (TFS) for reporting requirements for Transitional FoodShare (TFS) members.
| Note | Failing to report a change may result in an overpayment (see SECTION 7.3.1.1 OVERPAYMENT CLAIMS AGAINST FOOD UNITS). |
7 CFR 273.11(r)
Effective November 1, 2023, FoodShare members must report a substantial lottery or gambling winning. Any food unit that reports receiving a substantial winning on or after this date, while receiving FoodShare, will lose their eligibility.
A substantial lottery or gambling winning is a cash prize, won in a single game (ticket, hand, similar bet), before taxes or other amounts are withheld. The substantial winning is equal to or greater than the asset limit for elderly or disabled households (see Section 8.1.1.3 Asset Limits for the current substantial winning limit).
A substantial winning received before an initial application or before the effective policy date does not affect eligibility. Only count a substantial winning received during the certification period.
Members must report the substantial winning by the 10th day of the month following the month they received the winning. The member must report the winning at SMRF or renewal if either is before the 10th of the following month. The household may reapply at any time after losing eligibility due to a lottery and gambling closure.
However, at reapplication, the household must be tested and recertified using regular SNAP rules, not broad-based categorical eligibility (BBCE) or categorical eligibility (CE). Test each application using regular SNAP rules until the household is found eligible.
| Example 6 | Jürgen wins $10,000 playing a slot machine. He loses FoodShare eligibility for receiving a substantial winning. Jürgen reapplies for FoodShare and is found ineligible under regular SNAP rules. Two months later, Jürgen lost his job and spent the winning on living expenses. He reapplies for FoodShare. His application must be tested using regular SNAP rules. He is found eligible. At Jürgen’s six-month report and renewal, his case will be tested under BBCE. |
Members are required to report a substantial winning received out-of-state.
Household Changes
A substantial winning only applies to the food unit where the winning was originally received. The winning never follows the winning member to another household. When a newly formed food unit or a food unit where the household composition has changed since the closure reapplies, the regular SNAP rules are not applicable. The food unit will be able to apply and be tested under BBCE or CE rules.
A substantial winning received before November 1, 2023, and before an initial application does not affect eligibility.
| Example 7 | Carlos, Lisa, and Paige are all in the same household receiving FoodShare. Paige buys a lottery ticket and wins $10,000. She reports the winning and the case is closed. The household immediately reapplies for FoodShare. The case is tested and fails under regular SNAP rules. Two months later, Paige leaves the household to live on her own. After moving, Paige reapplies for FoodShare, she is tested under BBCE and is found eligible. Lisa and Carlos also reapply, are tested under BBCE, and are found eligible. |
| Example 8 | Ron received a substantial winning six months ago. He has not been found eligible under regular SNAP rules. Seven months after receiving the winning, his sister Birdy moves in. This is a change in household composition. If Birdy and Ron reapply for FoodShare, their case does not need to be tested under regular SNAP rules. |
Relevant food unit changes include but are not limited to:
Joint Purchase and Shared Winning
Multiple members in the same food unit may split the cost of a ticket and the winning. If the amount each member received is over the substantial winning amount, the food unit will lose eligibility. If the amount each winning member received is under the substantial winning amount, they will retain their eligibility.
A member may share the cost of the ticket and the winning with someone outside of the food unit. The member should only report the amount of the winning they received, not the total amount of the winning. If the amount received is over the substantial winning amount, the food unit will lose eligibility.
| Example 9 | Toua is receiving FoodShare and is the only person in his household. Toua evenly splits the cost of a lottery ticket with his friend, Yeng. They win $5,000 and split the winning. Toua receives $2,500. He does not need to report this winning because $2,500 is under the substantial winning threshold. |
| Example 10 | Amina has been receiving FoodShare for two years. She is in a food unit with five other people. An agency discovers that Amina received a lottery winning of $7,000 five months ago. Amina has never reported the winning. Her case should close. Amina’s household will be subject to overpayments from when the change would have been effective had they reported timely to the date the case was closed. |
Verification
Members only need to verify a reported substantial winning if it is found to be questionable, incomplete, or unclear.
A member’s verbal or written statement, lottery or gambling claim form, collateral contact with a gaming entity, or other document that clarifies the questionable information is all that is needed for verification.
If verification was requested and not received, and the food unit’s case is closed for failing to verify, the food unit will still need to be retested under regular SNAP rules at the next reapplication.
This page last updated in Release Number: 23-03
Release Date: 12/18/2023
Effective Date: 12/18/2023
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