State of Wisconsin Department of Health Services

HISTORY

The policy on this page is from a previous version of the handbook. 

25-02 Version of 2.1.4 Expedited Service at Application

7 CFR 273.2(i)

Priority services are designed to ensure that expedited benefits are issued to eligible FoodShare assistance groups by the seventh day after the date of the application. The applicant must be allowed to complete the interview quickly and benefits must be issued timely. The two phases of expedited services are described below.

• Priority Service: Screens all applications for potential eligibility for expedited issuance and faster service from the agency (see Section 2.1.4.1 Eligibility for Expedited Service at Application).
• Expedited Issuance: Benefits must be issued by the seventh day after the application is filed. Benefits will be available on the member's QUEST card the same day the application is confirmed in CWWCARES Worker Web.
• Members approved for expedited benefits must be offered the opportunity to come into an agency to receive a Temporary QUEST Card if they do not have an active QUEST card on file and available to them. This offer must be made by the worker on the same day the member is approved for expedited issuance, or on the next business day after the member is approved for expedited issuance (see section 7.2.1.2 Temporary Quest Card).

All food units that apply after the 15th of the month and who are eligible for expedited issuance must receive the prorated initial allotment and next month's allotment by the seventh day after the application filing date.

Agencies must provide expedited benefits to applicants who qualify for them after they are screened through the priority service process.

When contact is made by phone, every effort should be made to complete the FoodShare interview on the same day whenever possible. If an interview cannot be completed that day, an interview appointment must be offered to be scheduled within the seven-day time frame. If an applicant cannot make the scheduled appointment, the applicant will lose their right to expedited benefits.

2.1.4.1 Eligibility for Priority Service and Expedited Issuance at Application

7 CFR 273.2(i), 273.10(e)(3)

A person or food unit may be eligible for priority services and expedited issuance if:

1. Their total monthly gross income (actual income received in that calendar month) and available assets are less than the monthly allowable Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) (see Section 8.1.3 Deductions) and monthly shelter expenses; or
2. Their gross monthly income is less than $150 and they have $100 or less in available liquid assets; or
3. Their food unit includes a migrantany person who temporarily leaves a principal place of residence outside of his state and comes to this state for not more than 10 months in a year to accept seasonal employment in the planting, cultivating, raising, harvesting, handling, drying, packing, packaging, processing, freezing, grading, or storing of any agricultural or horticultural commodity in its unmanufactured state seasonal farm worker, who is also defined as "destitute" by meeting all of the following criteria:
   1. Liquid assets are less than $100,
   2. They don't expect to receive more than $25 from a new source ten days after the date of application, and
   3. Income prior to the day of application was from a terminated source, defined as:
      1. Income received on a monthly or more frequent basis, shall be considered as coming from a terminated source if it will not be received again during the balance of the month of application or during the following month, or
      2. If income is normally received less often than monthly (for example, quarterly), it is considered terminated if the source has been terminated and no future payments are made.

Treatment of Income for Destitute Migrants:

1. Budget income from a terminated source which was received by the food unit between the first of the month of application and the application date, as income available for the food unit’s needs in the month of application.
2. Disregardmeans do not count, exempt, or exclude any income from a new source expected during the month of application if income of more than $25 from the new source will not be received by the 10th day after the date of application [7 CFR 273.10(e)(3)(ii)].
3. After the application month, budget income from a new source for the months it will be received.

The home of a migrant worker in their state of residencyResidency refers to Wisconsin residency and not the mailing address. Contrast this with address in the glossary. is an exempt asset.

There is no eligibility for expedited services at renewal (see Section 2.2.1 Certification Periods (Renewals)).

2.1.4.2 Verification Requirements for Expedited Services

7 CFR 273.2(i)(4)

Identity is the only verification required prior to the issuance of expedited benefits. All other verifications must be postponed when they cannot be submitted within the expedited timeframe. When an authorized representative applies on behalf of the food unit, the identity of both the authorized representative and the applicant need to be verified. Any documents, that reasonably establish the applicant and authorized representative’s identity, must be accepted, and no requirement for a specific type of document, such as a birth certificate or photo ID, may be imposed. Collateral contact is also acceptable. If any other required verification is readily available, it must be used in the initial eligibility determination. Other outstanding required verification items must be requested, however do not delay the issuance of expedited benefits pending the receipt of other requested verification. 

A request for verification must be sent to the household for the postponed verifications. Ensure the verification due date on the checklist is the 30th day of the application or next business day if the 30th day falls on a weekend or holiday. Suppress any incorrect notices. Ongoing benefits will be denied if the postponed verifications are not received by day 30 of the application.  

There is no limit to the number of times a FoodShare household can be certified under expedited procedures. If an expedited service application had postponed verification requirements that were not satisfied and there is any pending information relevant to the household’s current situation, or the household was not certified under normal processing standards in the past 12 months, the household is not eligible for expedited services.

Once postponed verifications are provided or no longer relevant, the household may meet criteria for an expedited issuance of benefits.

Example 1

Sam applied for FoodShare on January 10th, 2025, and was determined eligible for expedited issuance of January benefits. The expedited FoodShare was issued and verification was requested for the ongoing eligibility benefit determination with a verification due date of February 10th. Sam did not provide the verification by the verification due date and ongoing eligibility was denied. In July 2025, Sam reapplied for FoodShare. The requested verification from the previous January 10th application is still relevant to the current eligibility determination and verification was requested. Sam is not eligible for expedited issuance and must provide verification before eligibility can be confirmed. If Sam provides the verification, eligibility will be determined, and Sam may qualify for an expedited issuance at that point. If Sam did not reapply until February 2026, he could qualify for an expedited issuance of benefits even if the requested verification from the January 10th, 2025, application is still relevant.

2.1.4.3 Eligibility for Migrant Workers

According to Wis. Stat. § 103.90(5)(a), "A 'migrant worker' is any person who temporarily leaves a principal place of residenceResidency refers to Wisconsin residency and not the mailing address. Contrast this with address in the glossary. outside of this state and comes to this state for not more than 10 months in a year to accept seasonal employment in the planting, cultivating, raising, harvesting, handling, drying, packing, packaging, processing, freezing, grading, or storing of any agricultural or horticultural commodity in its unmanufactured state."

Migrants are eligible for priority service if:

• Gross income is less than $150, and available assets are $100 or less, or

• They meet the definition of "destitute” by meeting all three of the following criteria:
  1. Assets are $100 or less, and
  2. The only income received by the food unit prior to the application filing date was from a terminated source, and
  3. The food unit does not expect to receive more than $25 from a new source within 10 calendar days from the date of application.

Treatment of Income for Destitute Migrants:

1. Budget income from a terminated source which was received by the food unit between the first of the month of application and the application date, as income available for the food unit’s needs in the month of application.
2. Disregard any income from a new source expected during the month of application. This income may not be more than $25 or must be received at least 10 days after the date of application.
3. After the application month, budget income from a new source for the months it will be received.

The home of a migrant worker in their state of residency is an exempt asset.

---

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