Food stamp use jumped 200% in Wisconsin amid shutdown

MADISON - The use of food stamps jumped by 200 percent in January in Wisconsin amid the federal government shutdown, according to the state Department of Health Services.

The Hunger Task Force of Milwaukee attributes the spike in part to confusion over FoodShare benefits while the federal government was closed. False reports led many to quickly use their benefits because they wrongly believed they would expire Jan. 31.

Beneficiaries will get their next allocations on March 1.

The federal government provided many recipients their February benefits early because of concerns it would not be able to release them at all if the shutdown continued into February.

The shutdown ended shortly after the benefits were made available, but a new shutdown could occur next week if Congress doesn’t reach a spending deal.

Because recipients got their February benefits early, they have to go longer than usual before they receive their next benefit allocation.

Typically, benefits are distributed throughout the first half of each month on a rolling basis.

For next month, all recipients will get their benefits on March 1, the state Department of Health Services announced Friday. That’s meant to help ease the burden on families because they had to stretch their February benefits for longer than usual.

The department is alerting FoodShare recipients about the change for March on its website, by email and via a mobile application it launched last week.

FoodShare provides about $67 million in benefits to more than 645,000 recipients in Wisconsin each month. In Milwaukee County, recipients get $114 a month on average.

Recipients got their February benefits as early as Jan. 20. Typically, recipients get benefits every 28 days but are going 40 days between allocations this time, according to the Hunger Task Force, a food bank that supplies food pantries in Milwaukee County.

“Hunger Task Force has authorized its network to serve anyone who needs help. We are ready to supply the food necessary to keep families afloat as they struggle into March,” said a statement from the group’s executive director, Sherrie Tussler. “We will continue to deliver, ensuring no one goes without one of the most basic of needs during this critical period.”