Understanding WIC Qualifications

WIC stands for Women, Infants and Children. It is a program designed to help provide nutritious foods to those that might not other wise get them. The first step is to call your local County Health Department to set up an appointment. Specify WIC when you call so the receptionist can send you in the right direction.

They should tell you what to bring for the interview. You don't have to be on any other programs to qualify but it can make the process shorter. Qualifying for another program will make your income verification easier. Be prepared to answer a serious of questions.

Proof of Income

You will be required to show your income and that for all working adults in the household. A family of three in my particular county and state can make up to $30,000 gross per year and still qualify as far as income is concerned. A check stub will work nicely. (They will be glad to provide you a list of what will be useful as income verification.)

The WIC case worker will use the check stubs to determine your projected yearly gross income. Income limits will vary for different family sizes.

*Income requirements can change from time to time as can fund availability for the program.

Proof of residence

This can be provided with a simple piece of mail such as a utility bill for your home. In some cases your I.D. will serve as proof of residence.

Identification

I.D. is required for all persons applying for WIC. You will need your I.D. and your child's. A social security card may be required for you and your child.

Who can receive WIC?

Any pregnant woman, postpartume women for six months or one year if breast feeding, an infant or child up to the age of five can qualify. Nutrition for your infant starts long before birth which is why the program is there for you.

The program provides pregnant women, postpartum women (up to six months if not breastfeeding), and breastfeeding mothers up for up to a year with items such as milk, juice, cheese, eggs, peanut butter or dried beans and cereal. It also provides these for children from one to five years of age.

Nursing mothers in addition to the normal foods will recieve carrots and tuna as well.

If you are not a nursing mother the program will provide your infant with a month supply of formula each month until their first birthday. By the time they are six months in addition to formula they will recieve infant juices and infant cereals. Thier first birthday is when they will switch to recieving the same foods you did when you were pregnant and nursing them.

Other proof

Pregnant women will need a statement from their doctor stating their expected due date.

Interview

During the initial interview and every few months afterward you will be required to present the required proof. As you child gets older you will need to bring a copy of shot records for your child to show that they are current.

So of the questions you will be asked will range from if you receive food stamps or other types of assistance to what and how often you child eats.

Every few months you will sit down and go over your child's progress with a nutritionist. This will be done after they are weighed. At a year of age the office will check their iron levels.

To know for sure if you qualify call your local health department and set up an appointment today. In some counties the WIC programs are starting to provide generic labels for some things they have deemed as priced too high. You will see signs that say "WIC approved" and recieve a guide of foods you can purchase from the worker to help you find the foods you can buy.