Spending Your FoodShare Benefits

You can use your benefits to buy food at some farmers markets and at grocery stores that have the Quest® sign.

Your benefits will be put into your FoodShare account using an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) system. You can spend them by using your Wisconsin QUEST card. 

Your QUEST card lets you use your benefits at the swipe card terminals in the check-out line in food stores. You use your card like a debit card and there is no fee to you. 

FoodShare benefits can only be used for food and for plants and seeds to grow food for your household to eat. Sales tax cannot be charged on items bought with FoodShare benefits.

FoodShare benefits cannot be used to buy:

• Any nonfood item, such as pet foods; soaps, paper products, and household supplies; grooming items, toothpaste, and cosmetics
• Alcoholic beverages and tobacco
• Vitamins and medicines
• Any food that will be eaten in the store
• Food that is hot at the point of sale

Many people have further questions about what items can be purchased with FoodShare benefits. This FS Eligible Foods Document - (118 KB PDF) provided by the Food and Nutrition Service lists many of those questionable items that can purchased with FoodShare benefits.

You can learn more on how to use your card or how to contact QUEST Customer Service by watching the "FoodShare Wisconsin - A Recipe For Good Health" video at dhfs.wisconsin.gov/em/av/ebt-vids.htm.  Information is also available on the Customer Help web.

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, political beliefs or disability.  

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TTY).  USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Last Revised: July 02, 2008