How to Apply for WIC in Texas
Step-by-Step Guide
Texas offers an online WIC application.
Apply online at texaswic.org → or call 1-800-942-3678 to schedule your first appointment.
Texas WIC Agency
Applying for WIC in Texas
Texas makes it easier than most states to get started with WIC. You can begin your application online at TexasWIC.org in a few minutes — after you submit, someone from your local WIC office calls or emails to schedule your first appointment. You can also call 1-800-942-3678 (1-800-WIC-FORU) Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or walk into any Texas WIC office. Many clinics offer evening and Saturday hours so you don't have to take time off work.
U.S. citizenship is not a requirement for Texas WIC. Fathers, stepparents, foster parents, and grandparents can all apply on behalf of an eligible child.
Before Your Appointment
Every person applying for WIC must come to the clinic in person for their first appointment. Gather these documents before you go:
- ID for every family member applying — driver's license, passport, military ID, birth certificate, hospital discharge papers, immunization card, or school/employee photo ID
- Proof of Texas address — utility bill, lease, or recent mail with your name and full street address. P.O. boxes are not accepted. If you live with someone and don't receive mail there, bring a signed letter from that person plus a bill addressed to them
- Proof of income — pay stubs from the last 30 days (four stubs if paid weekly), a current tax return, employer letter, Social Security award letter, or child support documentation for all household members
- If on Medicaid, SNAP, or TANF — bring your enrollment letter or card instead of income documents. Your application will be processed faster
- For infants and children — birth certificate, hospital record, or crib card. Bring immunization records if you have them — WIC staff will check and refer if any are missing
- For pregnant women — documentation of pregnancy from a healthcare provider, if available. Bring an extra diaper for infants and toddlers since they are weighed in a clean dry diaper
What Happens at Your Appointment
Your first Texas WIC appointment typically takes 30 to 45 minutes. A WIC health professional will measure height and weight, do a finger stick to check hemoglobin (iron) levels, review your medical and nutrition history, and ask about your family's eating habits. This screening determines your nutritional risk — which nearly all applicants meet.
After the screening you'll meet with a nutritionist for one-on-one counseling. If you're approved — which usually happens the same day when you bring complete documents — your food package is assigned on the spot and your Texas WIC EBT card is loaded with benefits right away.
Texas WIC clinics serve clients in the county where they live. If you're unsure which clinic to visit, use the office locator at TexasWIC.org or call 1-800-942-3678 to find the nearest location.
Moving To or From Texas
If you're moving to Texas from another state, contact your new local WIC clinic and let them know you want to transfer your benefits. If you're leaving Texas, ask your clinic for a Verification of Certification (VOC) form before you move — take it to your new state's WIC office to continue receiving benefits without starting over.
Your Texas WIC EBT card can only be used at authorized retailers within Texas. It will not work in other states.
Recertification in Texas
How often you recertify depends on your category. Pregnant women are certified through the end of their pregnancy. Breastfeeding women are certified up to one year postpartum. Postpartum women who are not breastfeeding are certified for six months after delivery. Children are certified annually, with a mid-certification health assessment for infants roughly at the halfway point.
Texas WIC will notify you before your certification period ends. Don't let it lapse — benefits stop on the certification end date. If your situation changes before recertification (new baby, change in income, change in household size), call your clinic to update your record.
Nutrition Education and Ongoing Support
WIC in Texas isn't just food benefits. After certification you'll have regular nutrition education appointments — these can often be completed online through the myWIC app or TexasWIC.org, which means fewer clinic trips. Breastfeeding support is available at every Texas WIC clinic through peer counselors and International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs). Free breast pumps are available for breastfeeding women in many cases — ask your clinic.
Application FAQ — Texas WIC
Yes. Texas offers an online pre-application at TexasWIC.org. After you submit the form, your local WIC office contacts you to schedule your first in-person appointment. The certification visit itself — which includes height, weight, and hemoglobin screening — must happen at a clinic.
Bring photo ID for every family member applying, proof of your Texas address (utility bill, lease, or recent mail — no P.O. boxes), and proof of income for all household members from the last 30 days. If anyone in your household receives Medicaid, SNAP, or TANF, bring that enrollment documentation instead of income paperwork. For infants and children, bring a birth certificate or hospital record.
Your first certification appointment typically takes 30 to 45 minutes. A WIC health professional will check height, weight, and iron levels, review your nutrition history, and provide counseling. If you bring complete documents, benefits are usually approved and loaded to your WIC card the same day.
No. U.S. citizenship is not a requirement for Texas WIC. Legal residents and qualified immigrants are eligible. Federal regulations specifically prohibit Texas WIC from sharing applicant information with immigration enforcement.
Recertification frequency depends on your category. Breastfeeding women are certified up to one year postpartum. Postpartum women who are not breastfeeding are certified for six months. Children are certified annually with a mid-certification health check at the halfway point. Your clinic will notify you before your certification period ends.
Yes. Contact your new local Texas WIC clinic and let them know you are transferring from another state. If you are leaving Texas, ask your clinic for a Verification of Certification (VOC) form before you move — take it to your new state WIC office to continue benefits without starting over. Your Texas WIC EBT card only works at authorized retailers within Texas.
