USDA: Wisconsin among the most accurate states for FoodShare enrollment

Contact: Seth Boffeli

(608) 266-5862

State to Receive Nearly $3 Million in Bonus Payments for Being National Leader

MADISON – The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Vilsack announced that Wisconsin will receive nearly $3 million in bonus payments for having one of the highest FoodShare accuracy rates in the nation and making the most dramatic improvement of any state. A USDA review found that 98.9% of the benefits issued in Wisconsin were for correct amount and that 95.4% of the individuals deemed eligible by the state were indeed eligible.

Department of Health Services Secretary Karen Timberlake today issued the following statement regarding USDA Secretary Vilsack’s announcement:

“We have worked very hard in Wisconsin to make sure the right people have the right benefits at the right time. And we are proud to be a national leader on an important issue for the health and well being of people across Wisconsin. These bonus awards prove that our hard work is paying off and that hundreds-of-thousands of people in Wisconsin are getting the food benefits they’re entitled to.”

USDA announced that Wisconsin has earned two bonus awards. Wisconsin’s FoodShare program will receive $1.9 million for having one of the lowest payment accuracy error rates (1.1%) which means members are receiving the appropriate amount for their FoodShare benefits. In addition, Wisconsin has also earned a $967,000 award for being among states with the most improved negative error rate, which measures the number of times ineligible individuals are enrolled in the program and eligible individuals are cut off in error. Wisconsin’s negative error rate was 12.8% in Federal Fiscal Year 2008 and is now 4.56%. This is lower than the national average negative error rate of 9.41%.

The USDA estimates that each $1 spent in FoodShare benefits results in $1.84 in economic activity for Wisconsin.

For more information, visit the USDA Newsroom at: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome