State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services

Release 26-02 June 20, 2026

4.1 Guest Registration Introduction

Demo Video

Applying for Benefits as a Guest

Guest registration allows applicants to apply for certain benefits in ACCESS without creating an account or logging in. Guest registration can be used to apply for the following programs:

• FoodShare 
• Child Care 
• Caretaker Supplement (CTS) 
• BadgerCare Plus (BC+) 
• Family Planning Only Services (FPOS) 
• Katie Beckett Medicaid (KBM) 
• SSI-Related Medicaid 
• Institutional Medicaid 
• Waiver Medicaid  
• Medicare Savings Programs (MSP)  

Applicants must create an ACCESS account to apply for Wisconsin Works (W-2), Job Access Loan (JAL), or Emergency Assistance (EA). 

Applicants using guest registration are subject to the same 15-minute inactivity timeout as logged-in users, but they do not have the ability to save and exit an application and resume it later. If a guest user is inactive for 15 minutes, ACCESS ends the session and unsaved work is lost. 

After submitting their application, guest users can review next steps. During the same session, they can submit documents, choose an HMO if applicable, go to the guest home page, download the application summary PDF, or create an ACCESS account. 

Guest users cannot save an unfinished application and return later.

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Notice: The content within this guide is the responsibility of the State of Wisconsin's Department of Health Services (DHS) and the Department of Workforce Development (DWD).

Publication Number: P-16101