The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides federal grants to states for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age 5 who are found to be at nutritional risk. WIC serves about half of all infants born in the United States.
Bent County Public Health can help to determine if you are eligible.
Call us at 710 456-0517 for more information
Population Served
The WIC target population are low-income, nutritionally at risk:
- Pregnant women (through pregnancy and up to 6 weeks after birth or after pregnancy ends).
- Breastfeeding women (up to infant’s 1st birthday)
- Non-breastfeeding postpartum women (up to 6 months after the birth of an infant or after pregnancy ends)
- Infants (up to 1st birthday). WIC serves 53 percent of all infants born in the United States.
- Children up to their 5th birthday.
Benefits
The following benefits are provided to WIC participants:
- Supplemental nutritious foods
- Nutrition education and counseling at WIC clinics
- screening and referrals to other health, welfare and social services
Who is eligible?
Pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, infants, and children up to age five are eligible. They must meet income guidelines, a state residency requirement, and be individually determined to be at “nutritional risk” by a health professional.
To be eligible on the basis of income, applicants’ gross income (i.e., before taxes are withheld) must fall at or below 185 percent of the U.S. Poverty Income Guidelines.
Am I Eligible for WIC?
Income Eligibility Guidelines
(effective 07/01/2022 – 06/30/2023)
| Annually | Monthly | Weekly | |
| Family of 1 | $25,142 | $2,096 | $484 |
| Family of 2 | 33,874 | 2,823 | 652 |
| Family of 3 | 42,606 | 3,551 | 820 |
| Family of 4 | 51,338 | 4,279 | 988 |
| Family of 5 | 60,070 | 5,006 | 1,156 |
| Family of 6 | 68,802 | 5,734 | 1,324 |
| Family of 7 | 77,534 | 6,462 | 1,492 |
| Family of 8 | 86,266 | 7,189 | 1,659 |
| For each add’l family member, add | + $8,732 | + 728 | + 168 |
While most states use the maximum guidelines, states may set lower income limit standards. A person or certain family members who participate in other benefits programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Medicaid, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families automatically meet the income eligibility requirement.