Assistance Programs in Wisconsin

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible Wisconsin households: insulation, air sealing, and heating-system improvements that lower future bills. The Division of Energy, Housing and Community Resources runs the program through local agencies. Apply online at energybenefit.wi.gov or through your local agency, and call the Customer Care Center at 1-800-506-5596 with questions.

WHEAP is Wisconsin's LIHEAP program: help with heating and electric costs, plus emergency (crisis) assistance and furnace repair or replacement for income-eligible households. Apply online at energybenefit.wi.gov, or contact the local energy assistance agency serving your county or tribe. For more information, call 1-866-432-8947. The main heating benefit runs October 1 through May 15 each year.

FoodShare is Wisconsin's SNAP program: monthly food money on a QUEST EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. Apply online through ACCESS at access.wisconsin.gov, which handles FoodShare, BadgerCare Plus, and other programs on one application, or through your local county or tribal agency. You can also manage your case with the MyACCESS app. For help, call ForwardHealth Member Services at 1-800-362-3002, Monday through Friday, 8am to 6pm.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children up to age 5. Wisconsin WIC runs through local WIC agencies. Start your pre-application online, or call the Well Badger Resource Center at 1-800-642-7837 to find your local clinic, Monday through Friday, 7am to 6pm.

BadgerCare Plus is Wisconsin's largest Medicaid program: free or low-cost health coverage for children, pregnant people, parents, and other adults with low income, ages 0 to 64. It covers preventive care, doctor visits, prescriptions, and emergencies. Apply online through ACCESS at access.wisconsin.gov, or through your local county or tribal agency. Call ForwardHealth Member Services at 1-800-362-3002, Monday through Friday, 8am to 6pm.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. File online through the Claimant Portal at my.unemployment.wisconsin.gov, which is the fastest way. For help using online services, call 1-844-910-3661 (or 414-435-7069): Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, 7:30am to 4:30pm, and Thursday, 8am to 3:15pm.

Wisconsin's Earned Income Credit is a refundable credit for working families with at least one qualifying child, worth a percentage of your federal EITC: 4 percent with one child, 11 percent with two children, and 34 percent with three or more children. It is refundable, so it can pay out even if you owe no state tax. Claim it on your Wisconsin income tax return (Form 1 or 1NPR).

The Homestead Credit is a refundable Wisconsin credit that helps renters and homeowners with low income offset the property taxes or rent they pay. For 2025, household income must be under $24,680 to qualify (people with income at or above that must be disabled or age 62 or older). You claim it on Schedule H or H-EZ with your Wisconsin return, and it can come back as a refund even if you owe no tax.

Wisconsin Works, called W-2, is the state's TANF program: monthly cash assistance and employment services for parents of minor children and pregnant women with low income. The Department of Children and Families runs it through local W-2 agencies, and most participants take part in work activities. Apply online through ACCESS at access.wisconsin.gov or at your local W-2 agency.

Legal Action of Wisconsin provides free civil legal help to low-income residents on housing, family, public benefits, consumer, and other noncriminal matters. As of January 1, 2026 it merged with Wisconsin Judicare into a single statewide firm that also serves northern Wisconsin and tribal communities. Call the intake line at 1-855-947-2529, weekdays 9am to 4pm, or apply online any time at legalaction.org.

Dial 2-1-1 from any Wisconsin phone, or call 1-877-947-2211, for free, confidential help finding local assistance with housing, utilities, food, healthcare, and more. 211 Wisconsin answers around the clock, every day, and connects you to programs near you. You can also search at 211wisconsin.communityos.org.