State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services

Release 26-01 August 12, 2026

View History

1.3 FSET Program Delivery in Wisconsin

1.3.1 FSET Administrative Regions

Wisconsin is divided into eleven FSET administrative regions, which mirror the boundaries of Wisconsin’s Workforce Development Areas (WDA). Each FSET region administers and delivers FSET services within the region by partnering with local service providers and community organizations. Wisconsin’s FSET regions include:

• FSET Region 1 – Southeast: Kenosha, Racine, and Walworth Counties
• FSET Region 2 – Milwaukee: Milwaukee County
• FSET Region 3 – WOW: Ozaukee, Washington, and Waukesha Counties
• FSET Region 4 – Fox Valley: Calumet, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Waupaca, Waushara, and Winnebago Counties
• FSET Region 5 – Bay Area: Brown, Door, Florence, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano, and Sheboygan Counties
• FSET Region 6 – North Central: Adams, Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Oneida, Portage, Vilas, and Wood Counties
• FSET Region 7 – Northwest: Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor, and Washburn Counties
• FSET Region 8 – West Central: Barron, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, and St. Croix Counties
• FSET Region 9 – Western: Buffalo, Crawford, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, Monroe, Trempealeau, and Vernon Counties
• FSET Region 10 – South Central: Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Jefferson, Marquette, and Sauk Counties
• FSET Region 11 – Southwest: Grant, Green, Iowa, Lafayette, Richland, and Rock Counties

In addition, eight Wisconsin tribes operate their own independent tribal FSET program, including:

• Bad River Band of Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians
• Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians
• Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin
• Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin
• Forest County Potawatomi Community
• Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
• Sokaogon Chippewa Community
• Stockbridge-Munsee Community

1.3.2 Voluntary FSET Program

Wisconsin operates a voluntary FSET program, which is an allowable state option under federal SNAP regulations.

A voluntary FSET program means that any FoodShare member aged 16 or older may choose to participate in the FSET program.

FoodShare members that are subject to the FoodShare work requirement can meet the FoodShare work requirement through participation in FSET (see the FoodShare Handbook, Section 3.17.1.2 FoodShare Work Requirement for the complete list of ways that ABAWDs may meet the ABAWD work requirement). Eligibility for FoodShare is limited to three months of TLBtime-limited benefits in a three-year period if an ABAWD is not meeting the FoodShare work requirement and doesn't have a qualifying exemption. The three TLB months do not have to be consecutive.

A voluntary FSET program also means that FoodShare members subject to the basic work rules are not required to participate in FSET to meet the basic work rules (see the FoodShare Handbook, Section 3.16.1 FoodShare Basic Work Rules for more information on the FoodShare basic work rules).

1.3.3 Service Delivery to ABAWDs

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) limits the receipt of FoodShare benefits to three full months in a three-year time period for ABAWDs who do not meet the FoodShare work requirement or meet an exemption from the work requirement. For more information about ABAWD TLBs and the three-year period, see the FoodShare Handbook, Section 3.17.1 FoodShare Work Requirements for ABAWDs.

During the current three-year period, an ABAWD may continue receiving FoodShare benefits as long as the ABAWD is meeting the FoodShare work requirement or is later determined to be a non-ABAWD. Participating in the FSET program is one way for ABAWDs to meet the FoodShare work requirement and maintain ongoing eligibility for FoodShare. Once FoodShare eligibility is confirmed, an ABAWD is systematically referred to FSET, so that they have the opportunity to choose to participate as soon as possible and not exhaust their time-limited benefit (TLB) months.

To meet the FoodShare work requirement through FSET participation, ABAWDs must participate in ‘qualifying’ activities. FSET agencies are required to provide qualifying activities so all ABAWDs who enroll in FSET are able to meet the work requirement by participating in FSET, if they choose.

---

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-00419