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County economic-support office reports SNAP reductions after COVID unwinding; BadgerCare cuts uncertain
Summary
Sawyer County economic-support staff said food‑stamp benefits returned to eligibility-based amounts after federal COVID-era supplements ended; BadgerCare changes were described as proposed at state and national levels but not yet implemented locally.
Shauna White, economic-support staff, told the Sawyer County Human Services Committee that March caseloads and timeliness remained steady and that results from a recent Department of Health Services management review were positive, with customer service rated above the state average.
White explained that during the COVID period many households received the maximum SNAP allotment, and with the federal-era supplements ending (“COVID unwinding”), benefits were recalculated based on current household income. As a result, some households saw reduced FoodShare benefits while others stayed the same. White said that programs enforcing work-search or work-participation rules for able-bodied adults without dependents have resumed in many counties; eligible adults who do not meet those criteria may receive time-limited benefits (typically three months) unless they meet exemptions such as caring for young children.
On BadgerCare (Wisconsin’s Medicaid program), White said there have been national and state-level proposals for changes but that no cuts had been implemented locally at the time of the meeting; county staff said they were monitoring the situation.
White said some implementation issues remain from the MAP premium-payment rollout but that payments and case updates are improving. She said county economic-support workers were praised repeatedly in the state review for their customer service and case management.
No formal policy action was taken at the meeting; staff said they would continue to monitor state policy developments affecting BadgerCare and SNAP and provide updates to the committee.
