What letter is this in Wisconsin?

Read the letter in your hand before you act on it.

• Sender. The name at the top is Wisconsin DHS, ForwardHealth, an income maintenance agency, or Social Security.
• Program name. The letter names Medicaid, BadgerCare Plus, FoodShare, or SSI.
• Date. You can point to the date printed on the notice. That date is the one you count from.
• Case number. The case number matches the one in ACCESS, or the Social Security claim number matches my Social Security.
• Deadline. The letter prints the date to act, or you know which rule on this page applies to this sender.

Sender. Wisconsin Department of Health Services, ForwardHealth, or the local income maintenance or tribal agency.

Words to look for. Medicaid, Medical Assistance, BadgerCare Plus, FoodShare, SSI Medicaid, or a case number.

What it means. This is a state benefits notice. An SSI Medicaid approval can arrive because SSI started, without a separate application. A notice that stops or denies coverage is the one that carries a hearing deadline.

Deadline to act. A Medicaid hearing request is generally due 45 days from the effective date of the action. A FoodShare hearing request is generally due 90 days from the date of the action. If the notice prints a different date, use that date.

Sender. Social Security Administration.

Words to look for. Notice of Planned Action, we plan to, your SSI payment, or the new amount.

What it means. Social Security is about to lower, stop, or otherwise change an SSI payment. The letter says what will change and when. This is not a ForwardHealth letter.

Deadline to act. You generally have 60 days after you receive a Social Security notice to appeal. Social Security assumes you received it 5 days after the date on the letter, unless you show otherwise. If you want the same SSI payment to continue while you appeal, ask within 10 days of receiving the notice.

Sender. Social Security Administration, often a local office.

Words to look for. Appointment, interview, a date and a time, and an office address or a phone number.

What it means. Social Security scheduled the claims interview. The letter usually says what to bring.

Deadline to act. The deadline is the date and time on the letter. If your loved one cannot attend, call the number on the letter before that appointment and ask for a new time.

• ACCESS Sign in to read notices, report a change, and upload papers. The public site is access.wi.gov.
• MyACCESS The phone app shows benefits, digital cards, and document requests, and it can update a home address, mailing address, or phone number.
• Income maintenance agency Ask the local or tribal agency for a copy of a missing notice. The phone number depends on the county or tribe.
• ForwardHealth Member Service, 1-800-362-3002 Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Central, except state holidays. Members call about enrollment and benefits.
• my Social Security Read Social Security letters and appointment details for the person who has the account.

A written Medicaid hearing request goes to the Division of Hearings and Appeals, P.O. Box 7875, Madison, WI 53707.