OUR PLACE

Full November FoodShare benefits are now available on all QUEST cards, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services said Friday morning.
FoodShare members will get full benefits instead of partial benefits because of lawsuits brought against the federal government by Wisconsin and other states, municipalities, and nonprofits. The Trump administration told Wisconsin to “immediately undo” any steps it took to issue November FoodShare benefits in a late-night notice Saturday, imposing more chaos onto a dizzying week of back-and-forth court action impacting some 700,000 Wisconsinites who rely on federal food assistance each month.

The memo from the U.S. Department of Agriculture sent to all states said “failure to comply” could result in the USDA imposing financial penalties on states that don’t do so. “No,” Evers said in a statement released Sunday morning. “Pursuant to and consistent with an active court order, Wisconsin legally loaded benefits to cards, ensuring nearly 700,000 Wisconsinites, including nearly 270,000 kids, had access to basic food and groceries.” November payments had been in doubt because of the government shutdown, but a court ruling last Friday ordered the administration to use money it had previously set aside to fund the program in full.

The payments to Wisconsin recipients came on Friday before the administration asked a federal appeals court to block a judge’s order that it distribute November’s full monthly benefits. It’s unclear what effect the lawsuit will have on those who have already received their payments. While the November payments are secure, future benefits remain uncertain due to the government shutdown, and state officials are still working to confirm December’s funding and the future months.

Due to the uncertainty of future benefits, local food banks are seeing increased demand. FoodShare members can check their FoodShare balance by calling QUEST Card Services at 877-415-5164.