Nebraska WIC Program
Benefits, Eligibility & How to Apply
Nebraska WIC Agency Contact
About the Nebraska WIC Program
Ready to apply for Nebraska WIC?
Call 1-800-942-1171 to schedule your first appointment, or see the step-by-step application guide →
Nebraska WIC is administered by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), providing free nutritious foods, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and referrals to healthcare and community services for pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children up to age 5. The program is delivered through dozens of clinic sites statewide operated by local health departments, community health centers, and nonprofit organizations under contract with DHHS. Nebraska WIC does not ask about immigration or citizenship status — the program is open to all eligible residents regardless of immigration background.
First State to Launch WIC Online Grocery Ordering
Nebraska made national history as the first state in the country to implement WIC online grocery ordering, according to Nebraska DHHS. Through the Midwest States WIC Online Ordering Pilot (MSWOOP) — a partnership between Nebraska DHHS, Iowa WIC, and Minnesota WIC — participants can order WIC-approved foods online and pick them up at participating Hy-Vee grocery stores using their eWIC card. The pilot launched in 2024 and is available at multiple Hy-Vee locations across the state. This improves access for families with transportation barriers or young children. Visit hy-vee.com to shop online with your eWIC card.
Hundreds of Authorized Retail Vendors
Nebraska WIC maintains partnerships with hundreds of authorized retail vendors statewide, giving participants broad access to WIC-approved foods in communities large and small. Authorized stores include major chains as well as local and independent grocers throughout the state. The WICShopper app helps participants identify approved items before shopping.
Local Agency Delivery Model
Nebraska WIC is delivered through a network of local health departments, community health centers, and nonprofit organizations contracted by DHHS. This decentralized model allows local agencies to tailor services to their communities — from Omaha and Lincoln to smaller rural communities across the state. Clinics are often co-located with public health offices, enabling warm referrals to other maternal and child health services.
Breastfeeding Support and Peer Counseling
Nebraska WIC offers dedicated breastfeeding support through certified lactation counselors and peer counselor programs at many local agencies. Breastfeeding participants receive enhanced food packages, and the program works to connect nursing mothers with community support groups.
Tribal WIC Programs in Nebraska
Nebraska is home to two federally recognized tribes that operate their own WIC programs directly through USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service as Indian Tribal Organization (ITO) agencies:
- Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska WIC — operated by the Winnebago Public Health Department, serving the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska community. Phone: 402-745-3958.
- Omaha Nation WIC — operated by the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska. Phone: 1-888-744-9011.
Nebraska’s other federally recognized tribes — the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska and the Santee Sioux Nation of Nebraska — may be served through the state WIC program or through inter-tribal arrangements depending on location. Families receiving commodity foods through the USDA Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) should contact their local WIC or ITO WIC office to confirm eligibility, as FDPIR participation does not itself grant automatic WIC income eligibility.
Income at or below 185% FPL. Automatic eligibility with Medicaid, SNAP, or TANF.
Monthly food benefits loaded to your WIC EBT card plus nutrition education and breastfeeding support.
Frequently Asked Questions — Nebraska WIC
Nebraska WIC is administered by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The program is delivered through dozens of local clinic sites statewide, operated by local health departments, community health centers, and nonprofit organizations under contract with DHHS. Nebraska WIC has served eligible families since 1974.
Yes — Nebraska was the first state in the country to implement WIC online grocery ordering, according to Nebraska DHHS. Through a partnership with Hy-Vee, Nebraska WIC participants can order approved foods online using their eWIC card and pick them up for free at participating Hy-Vee locations. The program launched in 2024 through the Midwest States WIC Online Ordering Pilot (MSWOOP).
No. Nebraska WIC does not ask about immigration or citizenship status. WIC is open to all eligible residents regardless of immigration background, and participation in WIC is not considered in federal public charge determinations.
ADC stands for Aid to Dependent Children — Nebraska's name for the TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) cash assistance program. Families enrolled in ADC are automatically income-eligible for WIC and do not need to provide separate income documentation at their WIC appointment.
Kids Connection is Nebraska's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). A child enrolled in Kids Connection is automatically income-eligible for WIC in Nebraska. However, Kids Connection eligibility applies only to the enrolled child — it does not extend adjunctive WIC eligibility to parents or siblings in the same household. Each family member must qualify separately if they are not enrolled in another adjunctive program.
Nebraska WIC maintains partnerships with hundreds of authorized retail vendors across the state, ranging from major grocery chains to local independent stores. Use the WICShopper app to locate authorized stores and identify approved products near you. For online shopping, participating Hy-Vee stores accept eWIC for curbside pickup through Hy-Vee Aisles Online.
Nebraska WIC Income Limits 2026
| Household Size | Annual Gross Income | Monthly Gross Income |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $28,953 | $2,413 |
| 2 | $39,128 | $3,261 |
| 3 | $49,303 | $4,109 |
| 4 | $59,478 | $4,957 |
| 5 | $69,653 | $5,805 |
| 6 | $79,828 | $6,653 |
| 7 | $90,003 | $7,501 |
| 8 | $100,178 | $8,349 |
| Each additional person | add $10,175 | add $848 |
| Effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. Figures are 185% of the federal poverty guidelines for the 48 contiguous states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories (including Guam). Alaska and Hawaii residents see higher income limits. Source: USDA FNS Federal Register notice 2025-03576 (90 FR 11598). | ||
Nebraska WIC uses the federal income guidelines, set at 185% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). These limits apply statewide and are updated each July 1. Families below 185% FPL who are not already enrolled in a qualifying program must provide documentation of household income at their WIC appointment.
Automatic Income Eligibility (Adjunctive Eligibility)
If you or your child is enrolled in any of the following programs, you are automatically income-eligible for Nebraska WIC and do not need to provide income documentation:
- Medicaid (including presumptive Medicaid eligibility)
- SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly food stamps)
- ADC (Aid to Dependent Children — Nebraska’s TANF cash assistance program)
- Kids Connection (Nebraska’s Children’s Health Insurance Program / CHIP) — eligibility applies to the enrolled child only and does not extend adjunctive eligibility to parents or siblings in the same household
Additionally, if any member of your household is a pregnant woman, teen, or infant currently receiving Medicaid, every person living in that household is automatically income-eligible for WIC.
Pregnant Women Count as Two Household Members
When calculating household size for income purposes, a pregnant woman counts as herself plus one additional person for each baby she is expecting. A woman pregnant with twins counts as three household members, which raises the applicable income limit for the entire household.
Special Eligibility Situations
Foster children up to age 5 are eligible for Nebraska WIC regardless of household income.
Pregnant immigrants who are ineligible for Medicaid due to immigration status may qualify through Nebraska’s 599CHIP program, which covers the unborn baby. This grants adjunctive WIC eligibility during the pregnancy. WIC eligibility under 599CHIP ends the day the baby is born, though benefits issued for that month are retained.
Nebraska WIC does not ask about citizenship or immigration status. Eligibility is based on income, residency, and nutritional risk — not immigration background. Participation in WIC is not considered in federal public charge determinations.
Income Documentation
Applicants who do not qualify through an adjunctive program must bring proof of household income from the past 30 days — such as pay stubs, a letter from an employer, or documentation of other income sources. Applicants who are adjunctively eligible must verbally report household income for program planning purposes but are not required to provide pay stubs or other proof of the dollar amount received.
Income Limits FAQ
A household of 4 must have a gross monthly income at or below $4,957, or an annual income at or below $59,478, to qualify for Nebraska WIC (185% FPL, effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026). If anyone in your household receives Medicaid, SNAP, or ADC, your family is automatically income-eligible regardless of income.
Enrollment in Medicaid (including presumptive eligibility), SNAP, ADC (Aid to Dependent Children), or Kids Connection (CHIP) grants automatic income eligibility for Nebraska WIC. Kids Connection eligibility applies only to the enrolled child — it does not extend to parents or siblings. If a pregnant woman or infant in your household receives Medicaid, everyone in the household qualifies.
Yes. A pregnant woman counts as two household members — herself plus one for each expected baby. A woman expecting twins counts as three members. This increases your household size for income limit purposes, which raises the income threshold your family must fall below to qualify.
No. Nebraska WIC does not ask about citizenship or immigration status. Eligibility is based on income, Nebraska residency, and nutritional risk. Participating in WIC is not counted against anyone in federal public charge assessments.
Nebraska WIC Approved Foods
Nebraska WIC food benefits are loaded monthly onto an eWIC card and can be used at hundreds of authorized retail vendors across the state. Participants can also use their eWIC card to order WIC-approved items online for curbside pickup at participating Hy-Vee locations through Nebraska’s online ordering program. The WICShopper app helps identify approved products before shopping.
Fruits and Vegetables
All participants receive a monthly Cash Value Benefit (CVB) — the amount is shown on your benefit card — for fresh, frozen (without added sugar or salt), or canned fruits and vegetables. Any variety without added sugars, fats, or oils qualifies.
Whole Grains
Approved whole grain options include 100% whole wheat bread, brown rice, whole wheat pasta, corn tortillas, whole wheat tortillas, oatmeal, and other approved cereals. Products must be whole grain and meet Nebraska WIC brand and size specifications listed in the WICShopper app.
Dairy and Protein
- Milk: low-fat (1%), non-fat, or lactose-free; soy milk is also an approved alternative
- Cheese: approved varieties in specified sizes
- Yogurt: whole milk yogurt for children age 1; low-fat or non-fat yogurt for children ages 2–5 and women. Check the WICShopper app for current approved brands — the food list was updated April 20, 2026.
- Eggs
- Peanut butter or dried/canned beans and peas (including pinto, black, kidney, lentils, and others). Peanut butter may be creamy, chunky, salted, or unsalted; reduced fat, natural/all-natural, and organic varieties are not approved.
- Canned fish (light tuna, pink salmon, sardines, mackerel) — available to women and children per the 2024 federal WIC food package update
Infant Foods
- Infant formula for formula-fed infants (breastfed infants receive enhanced food packages)
- Iron-fortified infant cereal for infants 6–12 months
- Jarred infant fruits and vegetables, or CVB for fresh/frozen produce for infants 6–12 months
- Jarred infant meat for fully breastfed infants 6–12 months
Cereal
Both hot and cold cereals are available. Approved cereals must be whole grain and iron-fortified. Check the WICShopper app for the current list of approved brands and sizes — the list is updated regularly and some items are brand-specific.
