Promising Practices

Internet Based Self Assessment Tool
Wisconsin

Wisconsin has created a Food Stamp and Medicaid Self Assessment Internet based tool. Anyone with access to a computer and an Internet connection can answer 10 to 15 simple questions about his/her household circumstances and income to assess his/her potential eligibility for benefit programs. The website is http://www.access.wisconsin.gov/access/ . An identical site in Spanish is also available. When a user has completed the self-assessment questions, he/she receives information about the programs for which he/she may be eligible, including a conservative range of likely food stamp benefits. He/she will also receive a phone number for the appropriate county or tribal office and links to the DHFS application forms for Medicaid and Senior Care (SC). Users will have the option of printing out a summary of the information they put into the self-assessment tool, as well as their results and information regarding referrals to the local agency.

The self-assessment tool does not provide or require any direct link to any local agencies. Basic eligibility covers age and gender, family relationships, pregnancy, disability, gross earned income, unearned income, child care expenses, child support payments paid, rent or mortgage payments, heat payments paid separately from rent, and residence in county or on tribal lands. Items not covered include: the number of people who purchase and prepare food together, full names and addresses, social security numbers, immigration status, assets, absent parents and child support cooperation, drug felon or fleeing felon status, student or striker status, migrant worker status, elder care expenses, non-heating utility expenses, receipt of health insurance, receipt of MA, homelessness, IPV or sanction status, and work requirements. The logic is similar to that in the State’s CARES eligibility system and will create groups for MA, FS and SC, and it will consider income according to CARES logic.

Implementation began in August 16, 2004. In December 2004, the self-assessment tool was expanded to include Elderly/Blind/Disabled medical assistance and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) assistance. Beginning in October 2005, the web site will be expanded to include an online application for food stamp benefits and Medicaid, as well as online tools that allow people who are currently receiving benefits to find out about the status of their benefits and report changes to their caseworker. The self-assessment tool may also be expanded to include selected local and state programs.

In order to measure the number of people who used the online self-assessment tool and then visited the local office to apply, a mandatory question in the CARES computer system prompts Client Registration staff to ask an applicant if he used the online self-screening tool prior to coming in to apply.

The project was funded in part by a grant from FNS.

For more information, contact:

Mike McKenzie, Supervisor
Policy, Planning and Evaluation Unit
Bureau of Income Maintenance Administration
Division of Health Care Financing
Department of Health and Family Services
201 E. Washington Avenue, Room G100
P.O. Box 7935
Madison, Wisconsin 53702-7935
(608) 266-0930
FAX (608) 261-6758
EMAIL: mckenmi@dhfs.state.wi.us

Last modified: 11/21/2008