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Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

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We've got NEWS
Thursday, June 1, 2000
Governor
Tommy G. Thompson
Secretary
Linda Stewart
News Media Contact
Rachel Biittner
608/266-8710
e-mail: news@dwd.state.wi.us
fax: 608/266-1784

 
ELECTRONIC FOOD STAMP BENEFIT ROLLOUT CONTINUES
This month in northern Wisconsin counties

MADISON—Wisconsin’s new Quest Card will soon be available to food stamp recipients in Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor, and Washburn counties and two tribal areas, as the rollout of the Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) continues.

In early June, food stamp recipients will receive an appointment letter in the mail, which directs them to their local agency for training and card pick-up. If the recipient is unable to make the appointment, they are instructed to call their local agency to reschedule. A local phone number is provided.

"We encourage recipients to attend their scheduled appointment, to ensure they receive necessary training with their Quest Card and are able to choose their personal identification number (PIN)," said Department of Workforce Development Secretary Linda Stewart. "But if they are unable to attend, they should call their local agency to schedule a more convenient time."

Traditional food stamps are being phased out in favor of the Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Quest Card. The card is indistinguishable from a bank debit or credit card and will be reloaded each month with a recipient’s total benefits.

"The new Quest Card will eliminate the stigma people feel when using paper food stamps, reduce the potential for fraud and improve the turnaround time for grocer reimbursement," Secretary Linda Stewart said.

Current recipients in this 10 county area will need to have their Quest cards to access their food stamp benefits as they become available over the period of July 2nd-15th. They will be informed of their specific benefit availability date at the training sessions.

 
Counties

Food Stamp
Caseload

 Grocers
Ashland 456 21
Bayfield 181 18
Burnett 209 13
Douglas 895 36
Iron 87 6
Price 305 12
Rusk 237 16
Sawyer 309 15
Taylor 239 12
Washburn 232 14
Red Cliff Tribe
Bad River Tribe

 
The EBT rollout is expected to be complete all across Wisconsin by the end of October.

 
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