The Basic Rules for WIC may be able to access

WIC serves pregnant people, new mothers, and children under age 5 in households earning up to 185% of the federal poverty line. Your state sets the exact income limit, and it changes each year. For 2024, 185% of poverty for a family of three is roughly $4,600 per month gross income, but your state WIC program publishes its own number on their website.

You must be a U.S. citizen, national, or may have access to immigrant to receive WIC. may have access to immigrants include people with a green card, asylum status, or certain refugee and asylee designations. Your state WIC office can tell you whether your immigration status qualifies.

WIC is for pregnant people (through the end of the month you give birth), breastfeeding people (up to one year after birth), postpartum people (up to six months after birth if not breastfeeding), and children from birth to age 5. A child ages out of WIC the month they turn 5.

Key Takeaways

  • Your household income must fall below your state's WIC income limit, which is set at 185% of federal poverty and published by your state WIC program each year.
  • You must be a U.S. citizen, national, or may have access to immigrant; your state WIC office determines which immigration statuses count.
  • WIC covers pregnant people, breastfeeding people, postpartum people (up to six months), and children from birth until the month they turn 5.
  • You do not need to receive other benefits like SNAP or Medicaid to get WIC, though many people receive multiple programs at once.
  • Your state may have a waiting list if WIC funding runs out; contact your local WIC office to learn current status and timelines.

Income Limits and How They Work

WIC uses gross household income, which means income before taxes and deductions. The limit is 185% of the federal poverty line. Each state publishes its own income table because some states set their limit lower than 185%, and the federal poverty line itself adjusts yearly.

To find your state's current limit, go to your state health department website and search for "WIC income limits" or call your local WIC office. They will tell you the exact monthly or annual cutoff for your household size. If your income is at or below that number, you pass the income test.

Income includes wages, self-employment earnings, Social Security, unemployment benefits, child support, and most other regular money coming into the household. It does not include tax refunds, one-time gifts, or money from selling personal items.

Immigration Status Requirements

You must be a U.S. citizen or national, or a may have access to immigrant. may have access to immigrants include people with a green card (lawful permanent resident), people granted asylum, refugees, people with asylee status, and certain other designations under federal immigration law.

Undocumented immigrants do not meet WIC's federal immigration requirement. However, some states have created separate state-funded nutrition programs for undocumented pregnant people and children; ask your local WIC office whether your state offers this.

You will need to show proof of immigration status when you apply. Bring a green card, passport, birth certificate, asylum approval letter, or other document your WIC office accepts. Call ahead to ask what documents they take, because requirements vary by state.

Nutritional Risk and Medical Referrals

WIC requires a nutritional risk — meaning a health condition or diet problem that WIC can help address. Most people who apply have at least one risk factor. Common examples are anemia, low birth weight, inadequate diet, or being underweight.

A WIC nutritionist or health worker screens you for nutritional risk during your appointment. They may ask about your diet, check your weight, or review blood work your doctor has done. If you have a recent medical record showing anemia, low weight, or pregnancy complications, bring it with you.

Some people are automatically considered at nutritional risk: all pregnant people, all breastfeeding people, and all children under age 2. Children ages 2 to 5 must be screened, but most are found to have a risk factor and are approved.

Residency and Where You Apply

You must live in the state where you apply for WIC. Most states do not require you to have lived there for a certain length of time, but a few do; ask your local WIC office about your state's rule.

Apply at your local WIC office, which is usually run by your county or city health department. Find it by searching "[your county] WIC office" online or by calling 211 (a free helpline that connects you to local services). Some WIC offices let you start an application online, but you will need an in-person appointment to finish.

You do not have to live in the same county where you work or where your child's school is. You apply where you actually live. If you move, notify your WIC office so they can transfer your case to the new location.

Other Programs and WIC

You do not need to receive SNAP (food stamps), Medicaid, or any other benefit to get WIC. WIC is a separate program with its own income limits and rules. Many people receive WIC and SNAP together, but one does not require the other.

If you receive TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), your income may already be low enough for WIC. If you receive SSI (Supplemental Security Income), you are automatically considered to meet WIC's income test, though you still must meet the other rules.

Getting WIC does not affect your SNAP, Medicaid, or housing benefits. The programs are separate in the government's eyes, and using one does not disqualify you from another.

What Happens If You Do Not Meet the Rules

If your income is above your state's WIC limit, you do not meet WIC's income test. Some states have a grace period of a few dollars over the limit, but most do not. If you are over by a small amount, ask your WIC office whether they have any flexibility.

If you do not have the required immigration status, you cannot receive WIC through the federal program. Ask whether your state has a separate nutrition program for undocumented people, or whether you can reapply once your status changes.

If you are a child over age 5, you do not meet WIC's age requirement. You may be able to get SNAP instead, which covers people of any age in low-income households. Call 211 or your state SNAP office to learn more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be on Medicaid or SNAP to get WIC?

No. WIC has its own income test and does not require you to receive any other benefit. Many people get WIC alone, and many get WIC plus other programs. Your WIC office will not ask whether you receive other benefits.

What if my income changes after I get WIC?

Tell your WIC office right away. If your income goes above the limit, you may lose WIC. If it goes down, you stay on WIC. Your WIC office recertifies you (checks your income again) at least once a year, and sometimes more often.

Can I get WIC if I am not a U.S. citizen?

You can if you are a may have access to immigrant — green card holder, asylee, refugee, or certain other statuses. Undocumented immigrants do not meet federal WIC rules, but some states offer separate nutrition programs. Ask your local WIC office.

What if my state's WIC program has a waiting list?

Some states run out of WIC funding and close enrollment temporarily. You can still apply and get on the waiting list. When funding opens, you will be contacted in the order you applied. Call your local WIC office to ask whether a waiting list exists and how long it typically is.

Do I need a Social Security number to get WIC?

Most states require a Social Security number for each person on the WIC case. If you do not have one, ask your WIC office whether they can proceed without it or whether you need to apply for one first. Rules vary by state.