Apply for Help Online, Not in Line: Milwaukee County Updates BadgerCare, Food Stamp Process
By Felicia Thomas-Lynn, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Apr. 2–Milwaukee County officials launched the first program in the state Tuesday that will allow low-income residents to apply for food stamps and other needed aid online.
Officials hope the Online Means No Lines campaign will dramatically reduce the wait times it takes to apply for assistance or maintain benefits by bypassing the decades-old, face-to-face interviews at social services offices that were a federal law requirement
“Scheduled appointments for the interview took the longest time. Typically you were there half a day,” said Jeff Aikin of the Milwaukee County Department of Human Services. He said Milwaukee County received a waiver from the state that allows the county to avoid a federal mandate of face-to-face meetings.
Realizing that people poor enough to qualify for services may not have Internet connections at their homes, Aikin said, clients will be able to also gain access to services over the phone or by mail.
They also will have access to newly installed self-service computers at the agency’s two main sites, the Robles Center, 1673 S. 9th St., and the Coggs Center, 1220 W. Vliet St. The option of continuing as usual, in person, is also available, he said.
There are about 100,000 Milwaukee County households receiving some form of aid, and 62,000 of those households receive food stamps.
Along with food stamps, other state or federally funded aid offered through the online service includes: BadgerCare Plus, Medicaid and SeniorCare. It does not include child care benefits.
Residents can log on to www.access.wisconsin.gov to fill out an online application to check eligibility for benefits. Once the application has been processed, clients can also check the status of certain benefits online.
As is customary, clients will still need to mail or drop off copies of verifiable information, such as a birth certificate, rent receipts and pay stubs.
Agency workers will then contact eligible clients to make an appointment that can be conducted by phone.
Clients may apply by phone at (414) 649-3080, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Those with basic questions about already-established benefits can call a 24-hour automated response line at (414) 289-6000.
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