SEED-Eligibility Guidelines

Every child born on or after 01/01/2025, through 6/30/2027, who is a Bayfield County resident* at birth is eligible to participate in the program.

*A child is a Bayfield County resident at birth if one parent/legal guardian resides in Bayfield County.

Detailed Eligibility Statement

Situation	Eligible?	Notes
Child was born at a hospital or birth center outside of Bayfield County, but one parent/legal guardian is a Bayfield County resident at the time of the birth.	Yes	Bayfield County Extension will receive the list of eligible children from the county health department based on the primary residence of the child indicated on birth record, not the birth location.
Child was born in Bayfield County (birth center, home birth) but is not a Bayfield County resident.	No	Bayfield County Extension will receive the list of eligible children from the county health department based on the primary residence of the child indicated on birth record, not the birth location.
At the time of birth, one parent is a Bayfield County resident and the other parent is not.	Yes	Bayfield County Extension will receive the list of eligible children from the county health department based on the primary residence of the child indicated on birth record. If a parent believes their child should be eligible, despite not being included on the health department list, they can provide their residence information at the time of enrollment and Extension can confirm it is a Bayfield County address.
Child was a Bayfield County resident at birth, but family moves out of county before claiming the starter deposit.	No	Eligibility is based on the primary residence of the child indicated on birth record and residence at time of enrollment.
Child was not a Bayfield County resident at birth, but family moves into the county before claiming the SEED incentive deposit.	Yes	Family will need to provide residence information at the time of enrollment and Extension can confirm it is a Bayfield County address.

Parent has multiple children who would be eligible based on birthdate and residency (ex: twins, siblings born after January 2025 and before July 2027).	Yes	Eligibility is based on the birthdate of the child and the primary residence of the child indicated on birth record. The SEED incentive deposit is one per child, not one per family.
Child born to a surrogate, with the intended parent residing in Bayfield County.	Yes	Family may need to notify Extension office to request to be included in the program, if child is not included in monthly list provided by health services.
Child was not a Bayfield County resident at the time of birth but was born after 01/01/2025 and was adopted or granted guardianship to a Bayfield County family prior to age 2.	Yes	The adoptive parent should provide proof to the Bayfield County Extension office of the date of adoption, birthdate of the child, and Bayfield County residency.
Child born to Bayfield County residents serving in the military who are stationed outside WI or outside the US	Yes	Family may need to notify Extension office to request to be included in the program, if child is not included in monthly list provided by health services.
Child born to homeless mothers who list a Bayfield County address as their residence.	Yes	Eligibility is based on the primary residence of the child indicated on birth record.
Child born to incarcerated mothers whose most recent address was in Bayfield County.	Yes	Eligibility is based on the primary residence of the child indicated on birth record. Family may need to notify Extension office to request to be included in the program, if child is not included in monthly list provided by health services.
An eligible child is placed in out-of- home care, and the placement is either in Bayfield County or birth parent is in Bayfield County (Ex: foster care)	Yes	Eligibility is based on the primary residence of the child indicated on birth record. Family may need to notify Extension office to request to be included in the program, if child is not included in monthly list provided by health services.
A child who was not born a Bayfield County resident, is placed into foster care in Bayfield County.	No	Eligibility is based on the primary residence of the child indicated on birth record.

In the unfortunate event of infant/child death
If an infant passes away prior to family opening an Edvest account.	No.	If the child is deceased, there is not a way to make the SEED fund deposit for them. The program should try to obtain death records, so they do not send mailings to families who are grieving a deceased child.
If an infant passes away after the family opened an Edvest account and the SEED fund deposit was already made.	Yes.	Once the SEED deposit is made to the Edvest account, it is owned by the family. They can follow instructions provided by Edvest on what to do with their account.
Who can open the account and receive the starter deposit?
A 2nd Edvest account is opened for the same eligible child and the account owner requests the starter deposit from Extension office. (Example: mother opened an account and received the starter deposit from Extension on 10/1, then father opens an account for the same child and requests starter deposit on 10/30 )	No.	The $100 or $200 starter deposit is only available once per child. The first account owner who notifies the Extension office that they have the child as an account beneficiary will receive the starter deposit.
A non-parent/guardian opens an Edvest account for an eligible child. (Example: Grandmother opens an Edvest account for the eligible child and contacts the Extension office to claim the starter deposit to her account).	Yes	A parent or legal guardian can notify the Bayfield County Extension office that they designate the starter deposit to a non-parent account owner. The SEED incentive deposit is allocated to the child. The first account owner who notifies the Extension office that they have the child as an account beneficiary will receive the starter deposit.
WIC Specific
Family does not participate in WIC at the time of birth, but then does join WIC prior to child’s 2nd birthday	Yes	Qualifies for additional $100 if the family notifies Extension at the time of WIC participation, prior to child’s 2nd birthday.
Family participates in WIC at the time the family claims the $200 starter deposit, but later does not qualify for WIC.	Yes	Qualifies for additional $100 if the family notifies Extension at time of WIC participation, if it is prior to child’s 2nd birthday. There is no recapture of these funds if they later stop participating in WIC.
Family participates in WIC in another county or tribal nation, but is a Bayfield County resident.	Yes	Family will need to provide proof of WIC participation to the Extension office.