Change WIC Benefits

As a WIC recipient, there may be occasions when you need to make an adjustment to your account info or the benefits you receive. Usually, this is as simple as talking to someone at your local WIC clinic! We'll help you understand when you need to notify WIC about changes in your household, what you'll need to bring to your appointment, and more.

Steps

Updating Your WIC Information

  1. Call your WIC office to make an appointment. Let them know what changes you need to make. In most cases, they'll set up an appointment for you to come into the office. They'll also give you any special instructions you need to know, like whether you need to bring any family members with you.[1]
  2. Bring your ID and proof of any changes to your appointment. Your WIC nutritionist should let you know exactly which documents you need to bring with you. This will depend on the type of changes you're trying to make, but in general, they may include:
    • Your WIC card[2]
    • Proof of pregnancy if you're pregnant[3]
    • Proof of residency (like a utility bill or bank statement with your name on it)
    • Proof of income for the last 30 days (either original or electronic copies, but not photocopies)[4]
    • ID for any child applying for WIC (you can use a crib card if they're a newborn)
    • Medical referral form from your healthcare provider
  3. Meet with your nutritionist remotely if your state offers these benefits. If you have a hard time getting to your local WIC office, try checking whether they'll allow you to meet with your nutritionist over the phone or on a video call. During the COVID-19 pandemic, some states rolled out a feature that allowed WIC recipients to set up a remote appointment with their nutritionist to apply for or change their benefits.[5]
    • There's been a push to continue these remote services even after the pandemic ends, and it's likely that more states will begin offering this option in the future.
  4. Be honest about any changes that could affect your benefits. When you were approved for WIC, you probably received some paperwork listing changes you need to notify your WIC office about, like changes to your address, income, or family size. It might not seem like a big deal if you change jobs or someone moves into your home, but these could impact your eligibility for WIC, so it's important to let them know.[6]
    • If you don't report these changes to WIC, you could be responsible for paying back the state for any benefits you received.

Changes that Affect Benefits

  1. Switch to formula: If you're exclusively breastfeeding, you'll get certain WIC benefits to make sure you're getting the nutrition you need to keep yourself and your baby healthy. If you start giving your baby formula, let WIC know—if you're still mostly breastfeeding, you can still get benefits up to a year after you have your baby, but in addition, your infant will receive some formula each month.[7]
    • You'll probably have to bring your baby into the WIC clinic to be measured and weighed if you make these changes.[8]
    • If your baby's pediatrician recommends a certain medical formula, let your WIC nutritionist know about that as well.
    • WIC is a supplemental program, so they will not provide all of the formula that your baby needs each month. If you need more formula and you can't afford it, call your WIC clinic and ask about food banks or other services in your area that may help.[9]
  2. Milk allergy or lactose intolerance: If you or your child has a milk allergy or is lactose intolerant, your nutritionist can include soy milk in your package instead of cows' milk. They may ask for documentation from your healthcare provider that this is the case, however.
    • If you're a vegan, you may be approved for soy milk as well. However, your WIC clinic may talk to you about the benefits of cow's milk, like improved bone mass or getting enough vitamin D.[10]
  3. Food preferences: When you're approved for WIC, the system will assign you a default package based on the number of eligible recipients in your household and their ages. However, your WIC nutritionist may be able to adjust some of the food quantities in your package based on things like your dietary needs, whether you'll eat certain foods, and cultural factors.[11]
    • If you're already receiving the maximum of a food, your WIC nutritionist can't give you more. However, they can take off foods that you won't eat so they aren't wasted.
  4. Homelessness or lack of refrigeration: If storage or refrigeration is an issue for you, contact your local WIC office. Your nutritionist will work with you to determine the appropriate food package, like recommending that you choose shelf-stable milk or leaving off items that will spoil like eggs or cheese.[12]
    • Be honest with your WIC nutritionist about what you're going through. They're there to help you, and they may be able to recommend additional resources for you and your child or children.
  5. Family makeup: You're responsible for letting WIC know how many people are living in your home, so reach out if someone moves in or out. For instance, you should tell WIC if you get a new roommate who has a job, or if a child who gets WIC benefits is no longer living with you. Also, let WIC know if you become pregnant—you'll likely be eligible for more benefits.[13]
    • If you're receiving WIC while you're pregnant, let your local WIC office know when you have your baby.[14]
    • WIC will automatically handle changes based on your child's age, so you usually won't need to contact them for that. However, if you have any questions about changes to your food packages based on your children's ages, you can call your local WIC office.[15]
  6. Mailing address or contact info: If you move and your mailing address will be in a different ZIP code, this will need to be updated, because it's one of the ways that your identity is verified when you need to access your account information.[16] Also, if you'll be moving somewhere else in the state, you can request to transfer to another WIC office closer to where you'll be living.[17]
    • If you're moving to a different state, see your WIC office for a Verification of Certification (VOC) that you can take to the WIC program in that state. You won't be able to use your existing benefits in another state.
  7. Income: You have to meet certain income requirements in order to be eligible for WIC. That's based on your entire household, so if anyone suddenly has a significant change in their income, it's your responsibility to let WIC know.[18]
    • Include any sources of income, like wages and earnings, child support, alimony, unemployment, and foster care payments.
    • Your income limits are based on your family size. If there are 3 people in your family, you're eligible for WIC if you earn less than $40,182 a year (or $773 a week).
  8. Nutrition or illness: Certain conditions may affect your nutritional needs and impact your WIC benefits. These include either you or your children being over or underweight, having low hemoglobin or hematocrit levels, having certain chronic diseases like anemia, or being born prematurely or with a low birth weight. If you suspect one of these issues, contact your WIC nutritionist or healthcare provider.[19]
    • You may need to bring medical proof of these conditions to your WIC clinic in order to have your benefits reassessed.
  9. End of your certification period: You're granted WIC benefits for a certain amount of time—usually 6 months or a year, depending on where you live.[20] At the end of that, you have to reapply for benefits and be reassessed for your eligibility.[21]
    • This is the perfect time to talk to your WIC nutritionist if you have any questions about making changes to your benefits.

Tips

  • If your WIC card is lost, stolen, or damaged, or if you've forgotten your PIN or you want to change it, contact WIC customer service.[22]
  • Keep your records up-to-date and organized so it will be as easy as possible if you need to make changes to your WIC info.[23]
  • Carefully read any paperwork given to you by your WIC nutritionist so you'll always know when you need to notify WIC of any changes.

References

  1. ↑ https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/fhw/wic/redirect-wic/for-participants.html
  2. ↑ https://cms.sbcounty.gov/wic/FAQs.aspx
  3. ↑ https://health.maryland.gov/phpa/wic/Documents/C-04_Welcome%20to%20WIC_Eng_proof_0119.pdf
  4. ↑ http://www.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/wic/wic-faq.html#3
  5. ↑ https://www.nwica.org/blog/lessons-learned-from-covid-19-the-ongoing-need-for-remote-wic-services#.YWWai9rMKUk
  6. ↑ https://www.publichealthmdc.com/documents/WICRightsAndResponsibilitiesEnglish.pdf
  7. ↑ https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/wic-food-packages-maximum-monthly-allowances
  8. ↑ https://cms.sbcounty.gov/wic/FAQs.aspx
  9. ↑ http://www.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/wic/wic-faq.html#3
  10. ↑ https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/HEALTHYPEOPLEFAMILIES/WIC/Documents/ppm/769.pdf
  11. ↑ https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/HEALTHYPEOPLEFAMILIES/WIC/Documents/ppm/769.pdf
  12. ↑ https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/HEALTHYPEOPLEFAMILIES/WIC/Documents/ppm/769.pdf
  13. ↑ https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/frequently-asked-questions
  14. ↑ https://health.maryland.gov/phpa/wic/Documents/C-04_Welcome%20to%20WIC_Eng_proof_0119.pdf
  15. ↑ https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/HEALTHYPEOPLEFAMILIES/WIC/Documents/ppm/769.pdf
  16. ↑ https://www.ok.gov/health2/documents/WICBrochure.pdf
  17. ↑ https://health.maryland.gov/phpa/wic/Documents/C-04_Welcome%20to%20WIC_Eng_proof_0119.pdf
  18. ↑ https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/frequently-asked-questions
  19. ↑ https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/frequently-asked-questions
  20. ↑ https://cms.sbcounty.gov/wic/FAQs.aspx
  21. ↑ http://www.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/wic/certification-visit.html
  22. ↑ https://www.ok.gov/health2/documents/WICBrochure.pdf
  23. ↑ https://www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/HEALTHYPEOPLEFAMILIES/WIC/Documents/ppm/769.pdf
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