WIC Program Explainer: Who Qualifies, How to Apply, and More - GoodRx (2024)



Healthy diets are critically important for young children, pregnant women, and new mothers — especially those who are breastfeeding. But eating healthy can be difficult for low-income households struggling to buy baby formula and nutritious foods.

To help address this issue, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides nutritional benefits to the households of low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women and children under the age of 5. The results of the program have been safer pregnancies as well as healthier mothers and children.

More than half of U.S. infants are enrolled in WIC. But there are many more Americans who are eligible and facing food hardship who are not.

How does the WIC program work?

WIC provides food, formula, nutrition education, breastfeeding counseling, other healthcare benefits, and certain social services to women and small children from households with low incomes.

The federal program is run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Services. But it is administered by nearly 100 state agencies and Indian Tribal Organizations across the country, including in the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories. There is also a WIC overseas program that provides benefits to members of the uniformed services, civilian employees of the military, and U.S. Department of Defense contractors.

Stateside, WIC is run by 1,900 local agencies at 10,000 clinic sites. And the benefits can be used at more than 45,000 authorized retailers.

Eligibility is established by income and a determination of “nutritional risk” for pregnant, postpartum, or breastfeeding women and children younger than 5.

Primarily, the program provides beneficiaries with funds for groceries. Most participants receive an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card that holds cash value and works like a credit card when making eligible food purchases. Instead of an EBT card, a few state agencies distribute food through central warehouses or deliver food to the homes of participants.

Who’s eligible for WIC?

To quickly find out if you qualify for the program, you can use the WIC prescreening tool.

As indicated by its nickname, WIC eligibility begins with three main categories: women, infants, and children. To qualify, low-income women must fall into one of these categories:

• Pregnant: eligible for benefits during pregnancy and up to 6 weeks after giving birth or the end of a pregnancy

• Postpartum: eligible up to 6 months after giving birth or the end of a pregnancy

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• Breastfeeding: eligible up to the infant’s first birthday

Infants younger than 1 year old and children under 5 can also receive benefits.

To qualify, potential participants must have a nutritional risk assessment. This free health screening is performed by a physician, nutritionist, or nurse based on federal guidelines. There are two main types of nutritional risk recognized by WIC:

1. Medically based or high priority: This includes having anemia and underweight for both mothers and children. Other qualifying risks for women are maternal age and a history of pregnancy complications or poor pregnancy outcomes.

2. Diet-based: This includes people affected by an inadequate dietary pattern and food insecurity.

The program’s income requirement is a gross household income at or less than 185% of the federal poverty guidelines. The below chart outlines the income caps by household size for the program year ending on June 30, 2023.

Most states use the maximum income guidelines, but some set amounts as low as 100% of the federal poverty guidelines. Conversely, people in Alaska and Hawaii can have incomes slightly higher than the federal maximum and still qualify for WIC.

You can receive automatic income eligibility if you or a family member participates in other federal safety-net programs, like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps, Medicaid, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

Is WIC guaranteed if I meet all eligibility requirements?

Some WIC agencies are unable to serve every eligible person who applies for benefits. If a local agency has reached its maximum caseload, applicants are approved in order of priority. The order of priority is:

• Pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and infants at nutritional risk because of serious medical problems

• Infants up to 6 months old with serious medical problems whose mothers participated in WIC or were eligible to participate

• Children younger than 5 who are at nutritional risk because of serious medical problems

• Pregnant or breastfeeding women and infants at nutritional risk because of dietary issues, such as poor diet

• Children younger than 5 at nutritional risk because of dietary issues, such as poor diet

• Non-breastfeeding and postpartum women with any nutritional risk

• Current program participants who are homeless or migrants and who have a medical necessity for WIC foods

How do you apply for WIC?

WIC applicants must live in the state or local service area where they are applying for benefits. There is not a certain amount of time you must live in a state or area to qualify. Applicants who apply through an Indian Tribal Organization must meet the organization’s requirements.

To apply, you need to contact your state or local agency for an appointment. You can find contact information for the WIC office closest to you by visiting your state or territory's WIC program website or calling the toll-free phone number available in some areas. Visit this directory for a full list of contacts for all states, territories, and Indian Tribal Organizations that offer WIC.

When you’re making the appointment, be sure to find the WIC location nearest to your home and what you need to bring with you to complete an application.

How long are WIC services provided?

WIC services are provided for the length of your certification period, which is typically 6 months to 1 year. Even if you still qualify for WIC, you may be required to reapply when your certification period ends.

Where are WIC services provided?

WIC services are provided at thousands of sites across the country, including:

• County health departments

• Hospitals

• Mobile clinics

• Community centers

• Schools

• Public housing sites

• Migrant health centers and camps

• Indian Health Service facilities

Where can you use your WIC card?

You can use your WIC card at authorized food stores and farmers markets. More than 45,000 merchants accept these EBT cards. If you are in a rural or remote location, you may be able to have food delivered to your home or have access to central warehouses.

Some WIC programs offer farmers-market coupons in addition to your WIC card benefits. And others have creative incentives, like “doubling your money” (e.g. spend $10 on your card and get $20 to spend on groceries) when you shop at a farmers market.

What can you purchase through the WIC program?

WIC authorizes a variety of food items for purchase. These foods were chosen to provide specific nutrients for participants. Eligible items include:

• Iron-fortified infant formula

• Infant cereal

• Baby foods

• Iron-fortified adult cereal

• Fruits and vegetables

• Vitamin-rich fruit and vegetable juice

• Tofu

• Peanut butter

• Dried and canned peas and beans

• Canned fish

• Whole wheat bread

• Milk

• Cheese

• Eggs

• Yogurt

Babies and children with special needs also may be able to access special infant formulas and medical foods.

In addition to the WIC card, what other services does the program provide?

In addition to funds for food, participants have access to other healthcare resources including:

• Health screenings

• Breastfeeding counseling and support

• Immunization screenings and referrals

• Substance abuse referrals

• Nutrition counseling