Whether you need BadgerCare Plus (Wisconsin's Medicaid), FoodShare (SNAP), cash help through W-2, or child care through Wisconsin Shares, Wisconsin has benefits programs that can help. Most start at ACCESS Wisconsin, the state's online benefits site. For SSDI, SSI, or VA disability benefits, start with Social Security or the VA.
Wisconsin benefits programs at a glance
Program | What it helps with | Where to apply |
|---|---|---|
SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) | Monthly income when a health condition stops you from working | Social Security Administration (SSA), or with Turnout |
SSI (Supplemental Security Income) | Monthly income for people with disabilities or older adults with very limited income | SSA, or with Turnout |
VA Disability | Tax-free monthly payments for conditions connected to military service | U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) |
Medicaid | Free or low-cost health coverage through BadgerCare Plus | ACCESS Wisconsin |
ACA Subsidies (Affordable Care Act) | Lower monthly costs for marketplace health plans | HealthCare.gov |
Medicare / Healthcare Advocacy | Health insurance for older adults and some people with disabilities, plus help using it | SSA to enroll, Turnout for advocacy |
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) | Money for groceries through FoodShare | ACCESS Wisconsin |
WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) | Healthy food and nutrition support for families with young children | A local WIC agency |
LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) | Help paying energy bills through WHEAP | Your local WHEAP agency |
TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) | Cash help and job support through Wisconsin Works (W-2) | ACCESS Wisconsin |
EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) | A bigger tax refund for working people | Your federal and Wisconsin tax returns |
Child Tax Credit | Lower taxes for families with children | Your federal tax return |
Child Care Assistance (CCAP, Child Care Assistance Program) | Help paying for child care through Wisconsin Shares | ACCESS Wisconsin |
IEP (Individualized Education Program) / Education Advocacy | Special education support at school | Your child's school, or with Turnout |
Disability and income
SSDI
SSDI pays monthly benefits to people who worked and paid Social Security taxes but can't work now because of a serious medical condition. In Wisconsin, the Disability Determination Bureau (DDB), part of the Department of Health Services (DHS), reviews medical records and helps SSA decide whether you meet its disability rules. You apply through SSA online, by phone, or at a Social Security office. If you'd like one-on-one help, you can apply for SSDI with Turnout.
Official resources: SSA's guide to applying for disability benefits and the Wisconsin Disability Determination Bureau.
SSI
SSI is a monthly payment for people with very limited income and savings who are 65 or older, blind, or disabled. In Wisconsin, DHS adds a state supplement to SSI, and it also offers the Caretaker Supplement for some SSI recipients who are raising children. You apply for SSI through SSA online, by phone, or at a local office. For one-on-one help, you can apply for SSI with Turnout.
Official resources: SSA's SSI page, DHS's guide to SSI in Wisconsin, and the DHS Caretaker Supplement page.
VA Disability
VA disability compensation is a tax-free monthly payment for veterans with illnesses or injuries connected to their military service. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) decides claims and assigns a disability rating. In Wisconsin, the Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) is the state agency that serves veterans, and it offers state benefits like a property tax credit for some disabled veterans. You can also work with a VA-accredited representative when you file. Turnout doesn't represent veterans in VA claims, but you can learn more on Turnout's veterans benefits page.
Official resources: VA's disability compensation page and WDVA's property tax credit page.
Health coverage
Medicaid
Medicaid is free or low-cost health coverage for people with limited income. In Wisconsin, DHS runs Medicaid, and the main program for families, children, and many adults is called BadgerCare Plus. You can apply at ACCESS Wisconsin, the state's online benefits site, where you can also apply for FoodShare and other programs. You can also get help from your local income maintenance agency. Check DHS's BadgerCare Plus income limits to see if you may qualify.
Official resources: DHS BadgerCare Plus, BadgerCare Plus income limits, and Medicaid.gov.
ACA Subsidies
ACA subsidies are tax credits that lower what you pay each month for a health plan you buy on the marketplace. Wisconsin uses the federal marketplace, so residents shop and enroll at HealthCare.gov. You can enroll at HealthCare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596. Covering Wisconsin, a nonprofit navigator program, offers free help comparing plans and enrolling. The Office of the Commissioner of Insurance can answer questions about health insurance in Wisconsin. Most people enroll during the yearly open enrollment period, but life changes like losing coverage can let you enroll at other times.
Official resources: Covering Wisconsin's free navigators (a nonprofit program) and the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance.
Medicare / Healthcare Advocacy
Medicare is federal health insurance for people 65 and older and some younger people with disabilities, and you enroll through SSA. In Wisconsin, DHS offers free Medicare counseling through benefit specialists, and the Board on Aging and Long Term Care runs a Medigap Helpline for questions about Medicare supplement insurance. When coverage isn't working, like a denial or a confusing bill, you can get one-on-one help from Turnout's healthcare advocacy team.
Official resources: Medicare.gov, Wisconsin SHIP Medicare counseling from DHS, and the Board on Aging and Long Term Care's Medigap Helpline.
Food and nutrition
SNAP
SNAP gives households money each month to buy groceries. In Wisconsin, SNAP is called FoodShare, and DHS runs it with local income maintenance agencies. Benefits come on an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card that works like a debit card. You can apply at ACCESS Wisconsin, the same site used for BadgerCare Plus and Wisconsin Shares. After you apply, your agency will contact you for an interview. Tax refunds, including earned income credits, don't count as income for FoodShare.
Official resources: DHS FoodShare and FoodShare income guidelines.
WIC
WIC provides healthy foods, nutrition education, and breastfeeding support for pregnant women, new moms, infants, and children under five. In Wisconsin, DHS runs WIC through local WIC agencies. WIC staff can also connect you with other health and community services. To start, find your local WIC agency and call to set up an appointment. At your appointment, staff will check whether you qualify and explain how to use your benefits. You don't need to be on another program to apply.
Official resources: DHS WIC and WIC income guidelines.
Home and cash help
LIHEAP
LIHEAP helps households with limited income pay home energy bills. In Wisconsin, this help is called the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP), and local agencies across the state take applications. Help depends on your household's income and available funding. To start, find your local WHEAP agency. Ask your local agency what documents to bring, like proof of income and a recent energy bill. You can call your local agency to ask about crisis help if you're facing an energy emergency.
Official resources: The Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP) and the LIHEAP Clearinghouse's Wisconsin profile.
TANF
TANF gives temporary cash help and job support to families with children who have little or no income. In Wisconsin, TANF is called Wisconsin Works, or W-2, and the Department of Children and Families (DCF) runs it. W-2 focuses on helping parents prepare for and find work. You can apply at ACCESS Wisconsin, the same site used for FoodShare and BadgerCare Plus. After you apply, a local W-2 agency will contact you to talk through your situation.
Official resources: DCF's Wisconsin Works (W-2) page for parents.
Tax credits
EITC
The EITC is a federal tax credit for people who work and earn low to moderate income. It can lower what you owe or increase your refund. Wisconsin adds its own earned income credit for working families with qualifying children, and you claim it on your Wisconsin income tax return. Workers without children can still get the federal EITC, but not the Wisconsin credit. You claim the federal credit on your federal return. Learn more about Wisconsin's earned income credit from the Department of Revenue.
Official resources: the IRS EITC page.
Child Tax Credit
The Child Tax Credit lowers federal taxes for families raising qualifying children, and part of it can come back as a refund. The IRS runs it the same way in Wisconsin as in every other state, and you claim it on your federal tax return. Learn more about the Child Tax Credit from the IRS. Keep your children's Social Security numbers handy when you file. Lower-income renters and homeowners in Wisconsin may also qualify for the state's Homestead Credit, which you claim with property tax bills or rent certificates.
Official resources: the Wisconsin Department of Revenue's Homestead Credit page.
Children and education
Child Care Assistance (CCAP)
Child Care Assistance helps families with limited income pay for child care. In Wisconsin, it's called Wisconsin Shares, and the Department of Children and Families (DCF) runs it. It helps eligible parents pay for care so they can work or go to school. You can apply at ACCESS Wisconsin, the same site used for FoodShare and BadgerCare Plus. DCF's Wisconsin Shares pages explain how to apply and what you'll need. Tax refunds, including earned income credits, don't count as income for Wisconsin Shares.
Official resources: DCF's Wisconsin Shares page and how to apply for Wisconsin Shares.
IEP / Education Advocacy
An IEP is a written plan for a child with a disability that spells out the special education services the school will provide. The federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) gives your child this right. In Wisconsin, the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) oversees special education in public schools. Ask your child's school for an evaluation in writing, and DPI explains the timelines schools must follow. If you'd like someone in the meeting with you, Turnout's education advocacy team starts with a free case review.
Official resources: DPI special education and DPI's bulletin on evaluation timelines.
What this means for you
- Start with ACCESS Wisconsin for BadgerCare Plus, FoodShare, W-2, or Wisconsin Shares.
- Gather your papers before you apply: ID, proof of address, recent pay stubs, and any medical or school records.
- Contact your local WHEAP agency if energy bills are a worry.
- File your Wisconsin tax return if you have children, so you can claim the Wisconsin earned income credit if you qualify.
FAQ
What are Wisconsin's program names for food, health, and cash help?
In Wisconsin, SNAP is called FoodShare, Medicaid's main program is BadgerCare Plus, and TANF is called Wisconsin Works, or W-2. You can apply for all three at ACCESS Wisconsin.
Will a tax refund affect my benefits in Wisconsin?
The state says federal and state tax refunds, including earned income credits, don't count as income for FoodShare, BadgerCare Plus, W-2, or Wisconsin Shares. That means claiming your credits won't reduce those benefits.
Does Wisconsin have its own tax credits for families?
Yes. Working families with qualifying children can claim the Wisconsin earned income credit on their state return, and lower-income renters and homeowners may qualify for the Homestead Credit, which you claim with property tax bills or rent certificates.
Turnout is not a law firm and does not provide legal or tax advice
It's your turn
You don't have to sort through all 14 programs on your own. Turnout's free Wisconsin benefits scan asks a few plain-language questions about your household and income, then shows which programs you may qualify for. It takes about three minutes and gives you a clear place to start today.