Economic Support FAQ
There are several ways that you can apply for benefits:
1. You can apply for benefits online at www.access.wisconsin.gov - 24/7.
2. You can contact the Southern Consortium Call Center at 1-888-794-5780 8:30 am to 4:00 pm
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Thursday 11:00 am to 4:00 pm – call to request to set
a filing date electronically.
3. You can call the Iowa County Department of Social Services – Economic Support Unit at 608-930-
9801 Monday-Friday between the hours of 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. and request to have an application be mailed to you.
4. You can stop into our office at 303 W Chapel Street – Suite 2300 in Dodgeville, WI Monday-Friday
between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and pick up an application.
If you have created an account in access and are not able to access your account, you may have to reset your password, which you can do from the login page on ACCESS. Look for the statement “If you have forgotten your User ID or password, click here” located under the login button. Follow the instructions from there. If you continue to have problems, you can contact Member Services at 1-800-362-3002.
It is highly recommended you write down your ACCESS account information and store it in a secure place.
The allotted processing time for a regular application is 30 days from the date we receive your application in our office, which we refer to as your application filing date. We make every effort to process requests as quickly as we can. When you turn in verifications or report changes, the processing timeline is generally 10 days from the date that we receive and date-stamp the documents in our office. Documents are processed in the order that they are received.
Providing the needed verifications for applications, changes and renewals is the easiest way to speed up the process. You can find a general list of verification requirements in the instruction section of a paper application or thru www.access.wisconsin.gov - however, there will be times that we may need to request further information. All programs require that you verify earned and unearned income; therefore, submitting your most recent 30 days of paystubs from your job is always helpful and can save time. Or if you are self-employed, submitting your complete tax records from the previous filing year (both personal and business) for example.
The fax number to the Central Data Processing Unit (CDPU) is 1 (855) 293-1822
You can contact the Southern Consortium Call Center at 1 (888) 794-5780. 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday and Thursday 11:00 am to 4:00 pm.
If you have general questions/inquiries or if you want to report changes (for example, a change in income, household composition, address, rent/mortgage amount) you can contact the Southern Consortium Call Center at 1 (888) 794-5780.
Your INITIAL premium will need to be sent to the local agency. You can either drop the payment off or mail the payment to:
Iowa County Department of Social Services
Economic Support
303 W Chapel Street – Suite 2300
Dodgeville, WI 53533
All subsequent premiums should be mailed to:
BadgerCare Plus Premiums
PO Box 93187
Milwaukee, WI 53293
Make checks payable to BadgerCare Plus and be sure to include your case number on the check.
You can also have your premiums withdrawn from your checking account automatically by completing this form: BadgerCare-Plus Premium Member/Employer Electronics Funds Transfer Completion.This is a simple way to ensure your premiums are deducted on time in an effort to avoid any possible lapse in coverage.
Call Member Services at 1 (800) 362-3002 to:
- Ask question about covered services and copay,
- Ask questions about enrollment rules,
- Find a provider,
- Replace your lost, stolen, or damaged ForwardHealth card.
If need to find out which HMO you are enrolled in, Call 1 (800) 362-3002
If you already have a Wisconsin Quest card (EBT card), your benefits will be on your card the following day. If this is the first time you are receiving FoodShare benefits, you will be mailed a Wisconsin Quest card from Madison the evening that your benefits are approved. You should receive your card in approximately 5-7 days. Your benefits will be available for your use as soon as you call and activate your card. Note: If you have ever received FoodShare benefits in the past, you will not automatically receive another card at the time of a new application. If you no longer have that card, you will need to call Quest Customer Services at 1 (877) 415-5164 and request a new card be sent to you.
If you lose or misplace your FoodShare card, you can call QUEST Customer Services at 1 (877) 415-5164 and they will deactivate your lost card and send you a new card. Once you receive the new card you will again need to call to activate it.
Each month that you are enrolled in FoodShare, your benefits will automatically be added to your QUEST card. The date you get your benefit is based on the eighth digit of your Social Security number.
|
Eighth Digit of your Social Security Number |
Day of the Month your FoodShare Benefits will be Available |
|
0 |
2nd |
|
1 |
3rd |
|
2 |
5th |
|
3 |
6th |
|
4 |
8th |
|
5 |
9th |
|
6 |
11th |
|
7 |
12th |
|
8 |
14th |
|
9 |
15th |
The Wisconsin QUEST card is a safe and easy way for you to use your FoodShare benefits. You can use it to buy food at stores that have swipe card terminals and take part in FoodShare. It is similar to a plastic debit card and has your name, card number and the Wisconsin QUEST logo on it. For more information, https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/publications/p1/p16088.pdf
The Caretaker Supplement ( CTS ) is a cash benefit program. The program’s benefit recipients are low-income parents who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. These SSI parents receive CTS benefits for each of their eligible children. A CTS benefit is $250 per month for the first eligible child and $150 per month for each subsequent eligible child.
Child Care information:
Give your child a great start.
How to read the stars. Understanding YoungStar.
Interviewing Providers: What to Ask Before You Choose
Reading the Stars: Choosing Child Care with YoungStar
Finding Child Care for Children with Special Needs
Getting the Most Out of Child Care: Family Engagement
Ask your local agency to help you file for a fair hearing or write directly to:
Department of Administration
Division of Hearings and Appeals
PO Box 7875
Madison, WI 53707-7875
Or: call (608) 264-9854
Or: complete the Request a Fair Hearing form found on:
http://www.doa.state.wi.us/Divisions/Hearings-and-appeals/request-hearing
If the fair hearing request is for FoodShare only, you can call the Southern Consortium Call Center at 1-888-794-5780. Your request can be made verbally, in person, or by telephone to your local agency.
The WHEAP program is administered by a different State department than FoodShare and BadgerCare and applications are processed in a separate and different system. Staff may not be able to view or use the documents that you have provided for other programs once they have been filed as a case record. To avoid confusion and delays, it is highly recommended you indicate on the documents whether you are submitting the documents for WHEAP purposes vs. FoodShare and BadgerCare Plus purposes. We also encourage you to write a case number or applicant ID number as well.
Contact VEYO to schedule a ride at 1 (866) 907-1493.
Visit the website: www.healthcare.gov or call: 1 (800) 318-2596