Wisconsin Students in Higher Education Can Now Enroll in FoodShare Program

Thursday, February 25th, 2021 -- 12:04 PM

(WMTV) Some Wisconsin students in higher education can now enroll in the FoodShare program and receive assistance in buying groceries, the Department of Health Services announced Wednesday.

DHS explained that students who are enrolled at least half-time in a higher education institution are now eligible, as Congress passed a provision in December of 2020 that loosens the federal restrictions on including students in the program.

DHS interim secretary Karen Timberlake explained that loosening the eligibility requirements will help students focus on finishing school during the pandemic.

The FoodShare program defines “institutions of higher learning” as colleges and universities, or business, technical, trade and vocational schools that would usually require students to have a high school diploma or GED.

The students must also be eligible to participate in a state or federal financed work study during the normal school year and have an expected family contribution (EFC) of $0.

DHS added that all students who receive the Pell Grant have an EFC of zero.  Students can apply for the FoodShare program on Wisconsin’s ACCESS website.

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