Texas WIC Program
Benefits, Eligibility & How to Apply
Texas WIC Agency Contact
About the Texas WIC Program
Ready to apply for Texas WIC?
Apply online at texaswic.org → or call 1-800-942-3678 to get started.
Texas WIC is administered by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) through local agencies and clinic sites across all 254 counties — more counties than any other state. The program serves pregnant women, breastfeeding women, postpartum women, infants, and children under five, providing food benefits, nutrition education, and breastfeeding support. If you think you might qualify, it is worth a few minutes to check — eligible applicants are served without a waitlist.
Who Qualifies for WIC in Texas
Texas WIC is open to pregnant women, breastfeeding women, postpartum women up to six months after delivery, infants, and children under age five. You don't need to be a U.S. citizen — Texas WIC has no citizenship requirement. Fathers, foster parents, grandparents, and legal guardians can all apply on behalf of an eligible child.
To qualify, your household gross income must be at or below 185% of the federal poverty level. If anyone in your household receives Medicaid, SNAP, or TANF, you automatically meet the income requirement and don't need to bring separate income documentation — just proof of enrollment in that program.
Tribal members enrolled in FDPIR should ask their local WIC office about adjunctive eligibility.
Every applicant also needs a nutritional risk finding, which a Texas WIC health professional determines at your certification appointment through a free health screening. Most applicants qualify on their first visit.
What Texas WIC Provides
Benefits are loaded monthly onto a Texas WIC EBT card — it works like a debit card at thousands of authorized grocery stores statewide, including H-E-B, Walmart, and Kroger. Whatever you don't use by month's end doesn't roll over, so it's worth shopping regularly.
Texas WIC food packages include milk, eggs, cheese, yogurt, whole grains, 100% juice, beans, peanut butter, and canned fish. One thing worth knowing about the Texas food list: corn tortillas and whole wheat tortillas are typically approved in Texas, which matters for a lot of Texas families. Check the myWIC app for current approved types and brands. Soy milk is generally available to women and children — ask your WIC office to add it to your benefits package.
Every participant also receives a Cash Value Benefit (CVB) for fresh, frozen, or canned fruits and vegetables: $26 per month for children, $47 per month for pregnant or postpartum women, and $52 per month for fully breastfeeding women. Fresh herbs — including cilantro, mint, and parsley — are covered under the CVB, which is particularly useful in Texas kitchens.
Beyond food, Texas WIC provides breastfeeding support through lactation consultants (IBCLCs) and peer counselors, nutrition education in person and online, and referrals to healthcare and social services. Many Texas WIC clinics are open evenings and Saturdays so that working parents don't have to take time off.
How to Apply for Texas WIC
Texas has a dedicated online application at TexasWIC.org. The pre-application takes a few minutes — after you submit, a staff member from your local WIC office contacts you to schedule your first appointment. You can also call 1-800-942-3678 (1-800-WIC-FORU) Monday through Friday to find a clinic near you.
At your appointment, bring photo ID for everyone applying, proof of your Texas address, and proof of income for all household members — or your Medicaid, SNAP, or TANF enrollment documentation if you receive any of those benefits. The WIC staff will check height, weight, and hemoglobin levels and go over your family's nutrition. If you're approved — which usually happens the same day with complete documents — your benefits are loaded onto your WIC card right away.
Texas also has the myWIC app (available on iOS and Android), which lets you view your benefits and shopping guide, find WIC-approved stores near you, schedule appointments, and upload documents between visits.
Recertification in Texas
How often you need to recertify depends on your category. Pregnant and breastfeeding women recertify every six months. Children recertify annually, though Texas WIC also conducts a mid-certification assessment for children to check in between full appointments. You'll get a reminder from your WIC clinic before your certification period ends — don't let it lapse, because benefits stop if you miss the window.
A Note on Texas WIC's Scale
Texas WIC operates across 254 counties — a geography that ranges from dense urban metros to remote West Texas communities hundreds of miles from the nearest hospital. Local agencies navigate that range by running satellite clinic sites in addition to permanent offices, and telehealth options have expanded availability in rural areas since 2021. If you're in a rural county and aren't sure where your nearest clinic is, the clinic locator at TexasWIC.org will find it for you.
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 — Texas WIC
You can start a Texas WIC application online at TexasWIC.org — it takes about 10 minutes, and a staff member will contact you to schedule your first clinic appointment. You can also call 1-800-942-3678 (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) to find a clinic near you and schedule directly.
Yes. Texas offers a statewide online application through TexasWIC.org. You complete a pre-application form online, and your local WIC office follows up to schedule your in-person certification appointment. The certification visit itself — which includes height, weight, and hemoglobin screening — still happens at a clinic.
Texas uses the federal WIC income threshold: 185% of the federal poverty level. For a household of four, that is $4,957 per month or $59,478 per year in gross income for the 2025–2026 benefit year. If anyone in your household receives Medicaid, SNAP, or TANF, you automatically meet the income requirement without needing income documentation.
Corn tortillas and whole wheat tortillas are typically approved in Texas WIC. Check the myWIC app for current approved types and brands — white flour tortillas have generally not been approved. Tortillas count toward your whole grains benefit, measured in ounces, and you can mix and match with other approved grains like bread, brown rice, and pasta.
Texas WIC operates through local agencies with clinic sites across all 254 counties, including both permanent offices and satellite locations in smaller communities. Many clinics offer evening and Saturday hours. Use the clinic locator at TexasWIC.org or call 1-800-942-3678 to find one near you.
myWIC is the official Texas WIC mobile app, available free on iOS and Android. It lets you view your current benefits and shopping guide, find WIC-approved stores near you, schedule and manage appointments, and upload documents between clinic visits.
Texas 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). | ||
Automatic Income Eligibility in Texas
If your household currently participates in any of these programs, you automatically meet WIC's income requirement in Texas:
- Medicaid
- SNAP (food assistance / Lone Star Card)
- TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)
Bring your current Medicaid card, SNAP Lone Star Card, or TANF documentation to your appointment instead of income paperwork — your application will be processed faster. This applies even if only one family member receives one of those benefits.
Tribal members enrolled in FDPIR should ask their local WIC office about adjunctive eligibility.
What Counts as Income in Texas
Texas WIC counts all sources of gross household income, including wages, self-employment income, Social Security payments, child support, alimony, unemployment benefits, and military pay. SNAP benefits, housing assistance, and tax refunds are not counted as income. If your income varies — like seasonal work or tips — Texas WIC typically uses a 30-day look-back from recent pay stubs.
Income Is Not the Only Requirement
Meeting the income limit gets you past one threshold, but Texas WIC also requires a nutritional risk finding. That's determined at your free certification appointment, where a WIC health professional reviews your height, weight, hemoglobin levels, and eating habits. The vast majority of applicants meet at least one nutritional risk criterion. If you think you're close to the income limit, it's still worth applying — household size and the unborn child exemption often shift the calculation.
Texas WIC Approved Foods
Texas WIC publishes an Authorized Product List (APL) reviewed and updated annually by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. The list reflects federal WIC food package requirements alongside statewide availability and cost — so approved brands and package sizes in Texas may differ from other states.
The easiest way to check approved brands while shopping is the myWIC app (free on iOS and Android), which has a built-in shopping guide updated in real time. Texas WIC also publishes a printed shopping guide in multiple languages — pick one up at any WIC clinic.
Texas-Specific Food Notes
Tortillas: Corn tortillas and whole wheat tortillas are typically approved in Texas. Check the myWIC app or ask your WIC clinic for current approved types and brands — white flour tortillas have generally not been approved. Tortillas count toward your whole grains benefit, measured in ounces — you can mix and match approved grain products like bread, brown rice, pasta, and tortillas to reach your monthly allowance.
Soy milk: Generally available to Texas WIC women and children — ask your WIC office to add it to your benefits package. Your clinic can confirm current eligibility and any documentation requirements at your next visit.
Fresh herbs: Cilantro, mint, parsley, and other fresh herbs are covered under the Cash Value Benefit for fruits and vegetables — useful for a lot of Texas households.
Canned fish: All Texas WIC women and children ages 1–5 receive canned fish on their benefits — chunk light tuna, pink salmon, sardines, or mackerel, in cans or pouches, any brand.
Baby food produce option: Infants 6–11 months can swap jarred baby food fruits and vegetables for a Cash Value Benefit for fresh or frozen produce instead. Ask your WIC staff at your next visit.
Shopping at Texas WIC Stores
Your Texas WIC card works at thousands of authorized grocery stores statewide, including H-E-B, Walmart, and Kroger. Look for the pink "WIC Approved Item" shelf sticker for foods where brand matters. For foods where any brand is approved — like eggs and canned fish — no sticker is required. Benefits must be used by the end of the month and do not roll over.
If an item scans as not approved at checkout, check the brand and package size against the myWIC shopping guide before completing your transaction. Ask the cashier to void the item if needed.
