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MILWAUKEE — Families statewide will no longer receive additional FoodShare Program COVID-19 Pandemic benefits after March 1.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, all of FoodShare’s Wisconsin households received two monthly payments. The first monthly payment is the household’s “regular foodshare amount” and the second monthly payment is the “additional her COVID foodshare payment.”
According to DHS, in November 2022, 709,223 FoodShare recipients each received approximately $95 in additional FoodShare benefits each month. That’s nearly $1 billion a year, and Wisconsins will lose their purchasing power for food.
Sherrie Tussler, Executive Director of the Hunger Task Force, said this would be a tremendous change for many.
(Spectrum News 1/Catalina Velázquez)
“Here in Milwaukee, about 250,000 households will be affected, so this is a big deal,” Tussler said.
The Hunger Task Force is working to spread the word and help families prepare for what’s to come.
Tussler said many families will feel the weight of these benefits ending, but one demographic in particular will really struggle.
(Spectrum News 1/Catalina Velázquez)
“Older people and people with disabilities will be most affected because they may be living in subsidized housing,” Tussler said. “Then their profit would drop from about $280 to $23. That’s a lot.”
She said the current perks seniors may have on the card last for a year on that card.
Tussler said state and federal governments have also cut back on items typically found in Hunger Task Force warehouses.
“We are giving less food,” she said. “I mean, this is the perfect storm. People need food from their food pantries, and their food pantries have less food than they’ve had in about four years.”
Every FoodShare member in the state received at least $95 in additional benefits each month.
(Spectrum News 1/Catalina Velázquez)
In the current situation where inflation affects food prices, its effects are being felt everywhere. Now that his family relies heavily on this support, Tassler fears things will get worse.
“I think we’re returning to what was once a hostile environment for low-income people in our state,” she said.
As hurdles stand in the way, the Hunger Task Force hopes to continue to lead the way by providing all possible resources and support to families across the state.
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