WIC: Who is Eligible?

Do I qualify?

To get WIC benefits, you must:

• Live in Wisconsin.
• Make a certain amount of money (See Table 1 below).
• Need help with health, nutrition, or breastfeeding support.
• Have one of these apply to you:
  • You are pregnant now or had a baby in the past six months.
  • You are providing your breastmilk to a WIC enrolled baby under 1 year of age.
  • You care for a child younger than 5 years of age.

You may be able to get WIC benefits if you already use one of these programs:

• BadgerCare Plus
• Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
• FoodShare
• Foster care and Kinship Care
• Medicaid
• Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
• Wisconsin Works Program (W-2)

What are WIC income guidelines?

Many working families are part of WIC. There are limits on how much money WIC families can make based on:

• Family Size—How many adults live with you? They can be relatives but don’t have to be. You often share money, food, and other things in your house with them.
• Gross Household Income—How much money do you make before taxes or deductions? This includes any money you make. For example:
  • Job
  • Child support
  • Overtime
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  • Unemployment

Income guide

The WIC Income Eligibility Table (PDF) shows the most money your household can make and still get WIC benefits.

Notes:

• The WIC Income Eligibility Table is valid from July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025.
• Your employer can fill out a WIC Nutrition Program Employer Statement, F-40076, if needed. This form shows proof of your income if you don’t get a normal paycheck.
• Your local WIC office can answer any questions about income.

What can I expect when I apply for WIC?

WIC staff will look at your health and nutrition. This is called a screening. Screenings often include:

• Height and weight
• Questions about your health and diet
• A test to see how much iron is in your blood

Anything you share with the WIC staff is private. WIC staff will ask you to state your race and ethnicity. This is for WIC records. It does not affect your WIC application.

WIC staff will not ask about your immigration status. You don’t have to be a legal resident of the U.S. to get WIC benefits.

What do I provide at my first WIC appointment?

You must provide some documents at your first WIC appointment. These include:

Proof of identity (ID)

You must provide an ID for you and each child getting WIC benefits. IDs can include:

• Alien card
• Birth certificate
• Driver’s license
• Hospital ID or proof of birth, like hospital discharge papers, crib card, or wrist band
• Military ID
• Passport
• Tribal ID card

If you do not have any of these forms of ID, talk to your WIC office.

Proof of address

You must prove that you live in Wisconsin. Proof of your address can include:

• Current utility bill with a street address (Not a P.O. Box)
• A rent or mortgage receipt

Proof of income

You must provide proof of any money you and the people you live with make. This can include:

• A letter showing that you are in one of these programs:
  • Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
  • FoodShare
  • Foster care and Kinship Care
  • Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
  • Wisconsin Works Program (W2)
• Pay stubs from the last 30 days. For example:
  • Four pay stubs if you get paid each week
  • Two pay stubs if you get paid every other week
  • One pay stub if you get paid each month
• Proof of other income. This includes:
  • Child support
  • Social security
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  • Unemployment

How do I provide proof of identity, address, and income?

You may provide proof of identity, address, and income in person at your WIC office, or online. To provide your documents online, contact your local WIC office. They will send you a link to set up a Family Portal account.

Setting up your Family Portal account

1. Click on the link that WIC sent you by text or email.
2. Choose a language (English or Spanish).
3. Select the “Sign up with email” button” if you want to create your Family Portal account using your email address, or select the “Continue with Google” button if you want to create it using your Google account. If you don’t already have an email address or Google account, go to the Google sign up page and follow the directions to create an account.
4. Enter your information on the family portal sign up screen:
   1. Enter the email address on file with WIC, or the one created in step 3 above.
   2. Create and confirm a password at least eight characters long. You must use a mix of letters, numbers, at least one symbol, and no spaces.
   3. Enter the zip code on file with WIC for where you live (not where you receive mail).
   4. Enter your date of birth.
5. Your account is now created. Each time you use your account, select to receive a one-time security code by text or email. Then select the Submit button. In the Passcode box, enter the six-digit code you receive, then select the Submit button.

What happens if I am approved for WIC?

If you are approved to get WIC benefits, you will get an eWIC card. This card lets you buy healthy foods from the grocery store. You will talk with WIC every three months to:

• Find out where you can get health care and help for other things your family may need.
• Get more foods benefits.
• Learn about nutrition and receive breastfeeding support.

Learn more about WIC