Standard Utility Credit Information
What is a standard utility credit? How do standard utility credits affect
A standard utility credit is a fixed dollar amount that the amount of FoodShare benefits I get?
is subtracted from your household’s gross income If you are eligible for a standard utility credit, the
used to determine the amount of FoodShare benefits credit amount is subtracted from your household’s
you get. You get a standard utility credit when you gross monthly income. Additional credits for shelter,
pay for certain types of utilities separately from your dependent care, and child support may also be
rent, such as heat, water, phone, or electric. subtracted from your household’s gross monthly
income to get your net income. Your FoodShare
During your FoodShare interview, you should report
benefit amount is based on your net income and the
to your worker which types of utilities you pay. You
number of people in your home.
may be asked to provide proof of the utilities you
pay in the form of bills or statements from the utility Where can I get more information?
company. You can get more information about energy
assistance on the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance
Wisconsin calculates standard utility credits yearly
Program (WHEAP) website at
based on average utility costs in the state.
homeenergyplus.wi.gov.
What standard utility credit am I
You can get more information about FoodShare by
eligible for?
going to the FoodShare website at
The types of utilities you pay separate from your
www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/foodshare/index.htm or by
monthly rent will determine which standard utility
contacting your agency (see page 3).
credit you are eligible for. You only get one standard
utility credit per year, so if you are eligible for
multiple credits, you will get the highest credit
available.
For example, if you pay a heating bill and a phone
bill, you will get the heating standard utility credit of
$538. If you pay both a water bill and a cell phone
bill, you will get the limited utility credit of $375.
Note: Cable and internet are not counted as
allowable utilities. Please see the table on page 2 for
more details on standard utility credits.
Wisconsin Department of Health Services
Standard Utility Credits
Credit
Utility Credit Type Eligibility Requirement
Amount
Heating Utility Credit $538 You will get a WHEAP payment in the current month, you got a
WHEAP payment in the past 12 months, or you pay a separate
Note: This is the maximum utility cost (that is not included in your rent) for heating your
utility credit. home with one of the following:
• Coal • Liquid propane gas
• Electricity • Natural gas
• Fuel oil • Wood
• Kerosene
Limited Utility Credit $375 You pay at least two of the following utilities, separate from rent
and they are not used for heating your home:
• Electricity • Phone (includes cell phone bills)
• Fuel oil • Sewer
• Installation • Water
• Kerosene • Trash removal
• Air conditioning
Electricity Utility Credit $151 You only pay an electricity bill and do not use electricity to heat
your home, or you pay an air conditioning cost separate from
your monthly rent.
Water or Sewer Utility Credit $103 You only pay a water or sewer bill.
Cooking Fuel Utility Credit $47 You only pay for fuel used for cooking.
Phone Utility Credit $30 You only pay a phone bill (includes cell phone bills).
Trash Utility Credit $27 You only pay a trash or garbage removal bill.
2
Agency Contact Information Reference
The agency contact information reference lists income maintenance agencies alphabetically and includes
each agency’s phone number as well as the counties (if applicable) that make up each agency.
Bad River Band of Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians 715-682-7127
Bay Lake 888-794-5747
• Brown • Marinette • Shawano
• Door • Oconto
Capital 888-794-5556
• Adams • Dane • Juneau • Sauk
• Columbia • Dodge • Richland • Sheboygan
Central 888-445-1621
• Langlade • Marathon • Oneida • Portage
East Central Income Maintenance Partnership 888-256-4563
• Calumet • Manitowoc • Waupaca
• Green Lake • Marquette • Waushara
• Kewaunee • Outagamie • Winnebago
Forest County Potawatomi Community 715-478-4433
Great Rivers 888-283-0012
• Barron • Douglas • Pierce • Washburn
• Burnett • Dunn • Polk
• Chippewa • Eau Claire • St. Croix
Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin 715-634-8934
Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians 715-588-4235
Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin 715-799-5137
MilES 888-947-6583
Milwaukee
Moraine Lakes 888-446-1239
• Fond du Lac • Washington • Waukesha
• Ozaukee • Walworth
Northern 888-794-5722
• Ashland • Forest • Price • Taylor
• Bayfield • Iron • Rusk • Vilas
• Florence • Lincoln • Sawyer • Wood
Oneida Nation 920-490-6800
Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa 715-779-3706
Sokaogon Chippewa Community 715-478-3265
Southern 888-794-5780
• Crawford • Green • Jefferson • Rock
• Grant • Iowa • Lafayette
Stockbridge-Munsee Community 715-793-4885
Western Region for Economic Assistance 888-627-0430
• Buffalo • Jackson • Monroe • Trempealeau
• Clark • La Crosse • Pepin • Vernon
Wisconsin’s Kenosha Racine Partnership (WKRP) 888-794-5820
• Kenosha • Racine
P-00654 (10/2024)
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) state
or local agencies, and their subrecipients, must post the following Nondiscrimination Statement:
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from
discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender
identity and sexual orientation), religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs, or
reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than
English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of
communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape,
American Sign Language), should contact the agency (state or local) where they
applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech
disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-
8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a
Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be
obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-
3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (833) 620-1071, or by writing a letter
addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address,
telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action
in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about
the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027
form or letter must be submitted to:
1. mail:
Food and Nutrition Service, USDA
1320 Braddock Place, Room 334
Alexandria, VA 22314; or
2. fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
3. email:
FNSCIVILRIGHTSCOMPLAINTS@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
02/15/2023
