SNAP Waived Areas in Wisconsin

Waived areas in Wisconsin

Current waiver: October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027 (USDA letter dated August 24, 2026). 6 areas:

Tribal areas

• Forest County Potawatomi Community and Off-Reservation Trust Land (18.5% unemployment)
• Ho-Chunk Nation Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land (14.8% unemployment)
• Lac du Flambeau Reservation (10.3% unemployment)
• Red Cliff Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land (15.5% unemployment)
• St. Croix Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land (11.2% unemployment)
• Sokaogon Chippewa Community and Off-Reservation Trust Land (12.6% unemployment)

How these areas qualified: All six reservation areas had a 12-month average unemployment rate over 10% for June 2025 to May 2026.

Previous waiver: October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026

Tribal areas

• Forest County Potawatomi Community and Off-Reservation Trust Land (14.7% unemployment)
• Ho-Chunk Nation Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land (14.6% unemployment)
• Red Cliff Reservation and Off-Reservation Trust Land (15.3% unemployment)

How they qualified: Wisconsin asked for four counties (Adams, Burnett, Iron and Menominee) and ten reservation areas using the old “20% above the national rate” test, which H.R. 1 removed. Rechecked under the over-10% rule, only these three reservation areas qualified, and the rest were denied.

What the waiver means if you live there

• The 3-month time limit does not apply while the waiver is in effect. Months you get FoodShare while living in a waived area do not count toward your 3 months, even if you do not work 80 hours.
• It depends on where you live, not where you work. If you live outside the listed areas, the time limit applies to you even if your job or training is inside one.
• The general work rules still apply. A waiver does not cover them. If you are 16 to 59 and not excused, you must still register for work, accept a suitable job offer, not quit a job or cut your hours without good cause, and take part in a job program if your state refers you.
• Your state keeps counting the calendar. USDA tells states to keep tracking the 36-month period even in waived areas so they can restart the time limit when the waiver ends.
• Tribal areas cover everyone who lives there. A waived reservation or trust land area covers all residents, not only Tribal members. American Indian, Alaska Native, Urban Indian and California Indian people are exempt from the time limit wherever they live.

When the waiver ends

The current approval ends September 30, 2027. Lac du Flambeau, St. Croix and Sokaogon were added on October 1, 2026. Wisconsin would need new data showing unemployment over 10% to keep any of the six areas waived after September 2027.

When a waiver ends, months before it ended still do not count. Starting the month after, any full month you get FoodShare without meeting the 80-hour rule or an exemption counts toward your 3 months in the current 36-month period. Your state should send you a notice first. To keep benefits, work, volunteer or train 80 hours a month, or check whether an exemption fits you.

Check your own situation

Check if the time limit applies to you Count your months

For start dates, your 36-month period and how to report hours in Wisconsin, see SNAP work requirements in Wisconsin. For every state’s list, see all SNAP waived areas.