Work Requirement

Contact your FSET worker if you are unable to meet the 80-hour per month requirement due to circumstances that you cannot control.

Good cause hours may be granted for temporary circumstances beyond a participant’s control that resulted in the participant missing assigned activity hours such as, but not limited to:

  • Illness or personal health reasons
  • Illness of another household member serious enough to require the participant’s presence
  • Inclement weather
  • Lack of transportation
  • Unanticipated emergency

If you have an approved good cause, then you can get benefits that month without it hurting your ability to continue getting FoodShare.

Time-Limited FoodShare and the Work Requirements –

The term ABAWD stands for “Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents.” ABAWDs are now subject to a FoodShare work requirement to continue receiving FoodShare benefits. FSET can help you meet this requirement, while also helping you to gain education/training, work experience, and/or employment. Adults ages 18-64 who do not have children under 14 living in the home may need to meet the work requirement to keep getting FoodShare benefits. If you need to meet the work requirement and do not meet it, you may only get three months of FoodShare benefits in a 36-month (three-year) period.

Meeting the FoodShare Work Requirement Through FSET –

Taking part in the FSET program is not required to get FoodShare benefits, but for those adults who need to meet the work requirement to continue getting their benefits, taking part in FSET is one way to meet the work requirement and maintain FoodShare eligibility.  If you enroll and participate in the FSET program, FSET can provide assistance with job search, education/training, and gaining work experience, as well as support services including gas cards, taxi cards, bus passes, and interview or work-related clothing.

Some adults may also be considered exempt and may not need to meet the work requirement if any of the following are true:

  • You are pregnant.
  • You can’t work due to your physical or mental health. This includes if you can’t work because you are experiencing homelessness.
  • You are living with a child who is 13 years old or younger, even if the child is not eligible for FoodShare.
  • You are Tribal member.
  • You care for a child aged 5 or younger who doesn’t live with you.
  • You care for a person who can’t care for themself (whether the person lives in or out of your home).
  • You are getting or applied for unemployment compensation.
  • .You are in a school, training program, or college at least half-time.
  • You are participating in W-2.
  • You are in an alcohol or other drug abuse (AODA) treatment or rehabilitation program.

If you believe you meet one of the exemptions reasons listed, you can call your IM Consortium’s Call Center, or report a change through ACCESS (access.wisconsin.gov), mail or fax.

Great Rivers Consortium (Burnett, Douglas, and Washburn Counties): 888-283-0012

Northern Consortium (Ashland, Bayfield, Iron, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, and Taylor Counties): 888-794-5722

Even if you meet an exemption, you can still volunteer in the FSET program to receive services and for assistance in meeting your employment/training goals.