Who qualifies for WIC?

WIC is for pregnant women, women who recently gave birth (up to 6 months postpartum, or up to 1 year if breastfeeding), infants from birth to 12 months, and children from age 1 to their 5th birthday. You must also meet income guidelines (185% of the Federal Poverty Level) or be enrolled in SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF. Fathers, grandparents, and foster parents can apply for eligible children in their care.

Can I get WIC if I have a criminal record?

Yes. WIC does not ask about criminal history and does not conduct background checks. Your conviction has no bearing on WIC eligibility. If you or your child meets the program requirements, you qualify.

Can I get both WIC and SNAP?

Yes. WIC and SNAP are completely separate programs. Receiving WIC does not reduce your SNAP benefits. If you are eligible for both, you should apply for both to maximize your food assistance. In fact, being enrolled in SNAP automatically makes you income-eligible for WIC.

Can undocumented immigrants get WIC?

Yes. WIC is available regardless of immigration status. You do not need to be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or have any specific immigration documentation. WIC does not ask about or verify immigration status, and receiving WIC does not affect your immigration case or count as a public charge.

How long do WIC benefits last?

WIC certification periods vary: pregnant women are certified for the duration of their pregnancy and up to 6 weeks postpartum; breastfeeding women can receive WIC for up to 1 year after birth; non-breastfeeding postpartum women are certified for 6 months; infants are certified from birth to 12 months; children are certified in 6-month or 1-year periods up to their 5th birthday. You must recertify at the end of each period.

What can I buy with WIC?

WIC provides specific foods: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, milk, cheese, yogurt, eggs, beans, peanut butter, tofu, cereal, infant formula, baby food, and 100% fruit juice. The exact items and amounts depend on your category (pregnant, breastfeeding, infant, or child). You can use the WICShopper app to scan barcodes and check if a product is WIC-approved.

Can fathers apply for WIC?

Fathers cannot receive WIC for themselves, but they absolutely can apply for WIC on behalf of their eligible children (infants and children under 5). Grandparents, foster parents, and other caregivers can also apply for children in their care.

WIC Benefits — Who Qualifies and How to Apply

WIC provides free healthy food, nutrition education, and breastfeeding support for pregnant women, new mothers, and children under 5.

Last updated: 2026-03-24

Quick Answer

WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) is a federal nutrition program that provides free healthy foods, nutrition counseling, breastfeeding support, and referrals to healthcare and social services. It is specifically designed for pregnant women, women who recently gave birth, breastfeeding mothers, infants, and children up to age 5.

The income limit is 185% of the federal poverty level. For 2025-2026, a family of four qualifies with an annual income up to $59,478. If you receive SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF, you automatically meet the income requirement for WIC. WIC serves about 6.3 million people each month.

WIC benefits are loaded onto an eWIC card that works like a debit card at WIC-authorized grocery stores and farmers markets. Your criminal record, immigration status, employment status, and housing situation have no bearing on WIC eligibility — if you meet the income and category requirements, you qualify.

Eligibility at a Glance

Income Limits

185% of the Federal Poverty Level. For 2025-2026: $28,953/year for 1 person; $39,128 for 2; $49,303 for 3; $59,478 for 4; $69,653 for 5. Each additional person adds $10,175. Automatically income-eligible if receiving SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF.

Who Qualifies

--Pregnant women (during pregnancy and up to 6 weeks postpartum)
--Breastfeeding women (up to 1 year after birth)
--Non-breastfeeding postpartum women (up to 6 months after birth)
--Infants (birth to 12 months)
--Children ages 1 to 5 (until their 5th birthday)
--Fathers, grandparents, and foster parents can apply on behalf of eligible children
--Automatic income eligibility if you receive SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF

Important Restrictions

--Must be a resident of the state where you apply (does not require U.S. citizenship)
--Must be determined to be at nutritional risk by a healthcare professional (this is done at your WIC appointment and nearly everyone qualifies)
--Must meet income requirements unless categorically eligible through SNAP/Medicaid/TANF
--Criminal record does NOT affect eligibility
--Immigration status does NOT affect eligibility — non-citizens may receive WIC

How to Apply — Step by Step

1.
Find Your Local WIC Office
Visit the USDA WIC State Agency Directory at fns.usda.gov/wic/state-agency-contacts or call your state health department. You can also call 211 for help locating your nearest WIC clinic.
2.
Contact WIC and Schedule an Appointment
Call your local WIC office to schedule a certification appointment. Many offices also accept walk-ins. Some states offer pre-applications online to speed up the process.
3.
Gather Documents
Bring: proof of identity for you and the child (birth certificate, ID, hospital records), proof of residency (utility bill, lease, mail with your address), and proof of income (pay stubs, tax return, benefit award letters). If you receive SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF, bring your award letter — it serves as proof of income eligibility.
4.
Attend Your Certification Appointment
At the appointment, a WIC staff member will check your eligibility, take height and weight measurements, do a blood test (finger prick for iron levels), and provide a brief nutrition assessment. This determines your nutritional risk and your specific food package. The appointment typically takes 30-60 minutes.
5.
Receive Your eWIC Card and Benefits
If approved, you will receive your eWIC card and your first month of benefits at the appointment. The nutritionist will explain your food package, show you how to use the card, and help you download the WICShopper app. Benefits are typically reloaded monthly.

What Is WIC?

WIC stands for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. It is a federally funded program administered by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service and operated through state health departments and local WIC clinics. WIC serves about 6.3 million participants monthly, including approximately half of all infants born in the United States. The program provides supplemental foods, nutrition education and counseling, breastfeeding promotion and support, and referrals to healthcare, immunizations, and other social services.

WIC Income Limits (2025-2026)

WIC eligibility is based on gross household income at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level. The 2025-2026 income guidelines (effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026) are: 1 person — $28,953/year ($2,413/month); 2 people — $39,128/year ($3,261/month); 3 people — $49,303/year ($4,109/month); 4 people — $59,478/year ($4,957/month); 5 people — $69,653/year ($5,805/month); 6 people — $79,828/year ($6,653/month); 7 people — $90,003/year ($7,500/month); 8 people — $100,178/year ($8,349/month). Each additional family member adds $10,175/year. If you or your child receives SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF benefits, you automatically meet the income requirement.

What Foods Does WIC Provide?

WIC provides specific nutritious foods tailored to each participant's needs. The food packages include: fruits and vegetables (fresh, canned, or frozen), whole grains (bread, tortillas, brown rice, oatmeal), milk, cheese, and yogurt, eggs, beans and peas (canned or dried), peanut butter, tofu and soy-based beverages, iron-fortified infant cereal, infant formula (for infants not exclusively breastfed), baby food (fruits, vegetables, and meats), and 100% fruit juice. The specific items and amounts vary based on whether you are pregnant, breastfeeding, postpartum, an infant, or a child. Starting September 2025, WIC expanded its food packages to include more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. WIC benefits can also be used at authorized farmers markets to buy fresh local produce.

WIC vs. SNAP — What Is the Difference?

WIC and SNAP are two separate programs, and you can receive both at the same time. SNAP provides general food assistance to low-income households of any composition and covers most food items at grocery stores. WIC provides specific nutritious foods only to pregnant/postpartum women, infants, and children under 5. WIC also includes nutrition counseling, breastfeeding support, and health referrals that SNAP does not. WIC benefits do not reduce your SNAP benefits — they stack on top of each other. If you qualify for both, apply for both.

The eWIC Card — How It Works

WIC benefits are loaded onto an electronic WIC (eWIC) card, which works like a debit card at WIC-authorized stores. Your WIC nutritionist will determine your food package, and those benefits are loaded to your card each month. At the store, you shop for WIC-approved items, and at checkout the card automatically deducts only the WIC items. Most states also have a WICShopper app that lets you check your balance, find approved stores, and scan barcodes to see if a product is WIC-eligible. Your eWIC card works only at WIC-authorized retailers — look for WIC signs in store windows or ask at the customer service desk.

WIC and Criminal Records

Your criminal record has absolutely no effect on WIC eligibility. WIC does not conduct background checks and does not ask about criminal history on the application. If you are a parent, grandparent, or caregiver of an eligible child, you can apply for WIC on the child's behalf regardless of your own record. If you are pregnant or recently gave birth, you can receive WIC for yourself. WIC is also available regardless of immigration status — you do not need to be a U.S. citizen or have a green card. Using WIC does not count as a public charge for immigration purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who qualifies for WIC?: WIC is for pregnant women, women who recently gave birth (up to 6 months postpartum, or up to 1 year if breastfeeding), infants from birth to 12 months, and children from age 1 to their 5th birthday. You must also meet income guidelines (185% of the Federal Poverty Level) or be enrolled in SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF. Fathers, grandparents, and foster parents can apply for eligible children in their care.
Can I get WIC if I have a criminal record?: Yes. WIC does not ask about criminal history and does not conduct background checks. Your conviction has no bearing on WIC eligibility. If you or your child meets the program requirements, you qualify.
Can I get both WIC and SNAP?: Yes. WIC and SNAP are completely separate programs. Receiving WIC does not reduce your SNAP benefits. If you are eligible for both, you should apply for both to maximize your food assistance. In fact, being enrolled in SNAP automatically makes you income-eligible for WIC.
Can undocumented immigrants get WIC?: Yes. WIC is available regardless of immigration status. You do not need to be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or have any specific immigration documentation. WIC does not ask about or verify immigration status, and receiving WIC does not affect your immigration case or count as a public charge.
How long do WIC benefits last?: WIC certification periods vary: pregnant women are certified for the duration of their pregnancy and up to 6 weeks postpartum; breastfeeding women can receive WIC for up to 1 year after birth; non-breastfeeding postpartum women are certified for 6 months; infants are certified from birth to 12 months; children are certified in 6-month or 1-year periods up to their 5th birthday. You must recertify at the end of each period.
What can I buy with WIC?: WIC provides specific foods: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, milk, cheese, yogurt, eggs, beans, peanut butter, tofu, cereal, infant formula, baby food, and 100% fruit juice. The exact items and amounts depend on your category (pregnant, breastfeeding, infant, or child). You can use the WICShopper app to scan barcodes and check if a product is WIC-approved.
Can fathers apply for WIC?: Fathers cannot receive WIC for themselves, but they absolutely can apply for WIC on behalf of their eligible children (infants and children under 5). Grandparents, foster parents, and other caregivers can also apply for children in their care.

Helpful Resources

USDA WIC — Program Overview
Official USDA WIC program information, including benefits and eligibility
Find Your WIC Office
USDA directory of WIC state agencies — find your local WIC clinic
WIC Income Eligibility Guidelines (2025-2026)
Official income limits for WIC eligibility by household size
WIC Food Packages
Detailed information about WIC-approved foods for each participant category
No Kid Hungry — What Is WIC?
Easy-to-understand overview of the WIC program and its benefits

More Food & Benefits Guides

Video Guides

Search on YouTube

Disclaimer: This is informational only, not legal or professional advice. Benefits, eligibility rules, and program availability may vary by state and change over time. Contact your local office or call 211 for the most current information about programs in your area. For legal advice about your benefits, contact a legal aid organization near you.