West Virginia WIC Program

About the West Virginia WIC Program

West Virginia WIC is administered by the West Virginia Department of Health, Bureau for Public Health, Office of Nutrition Services (ONS). The program serves thousands of pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children each month at clinic sites in all 55 counties, providing free nutritious foods, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and referrals to healthcare and community services. WIC does not ask about immigration or citizenship status — participation is open to all eligible residents regardless of immigration background, and WIC is not considered in public charge determinations.

WIC Across All 55 West Virginia Counties

West Virginia WIC operates through a network of local health departments and community health organizations serving all 55 counties. The program plays a critical role in reaching families in rural Appalachian communities where access to healthy food and healthcare can be limited. WIC serves as a bridge to other services, including healthcare referrals, dental care, and substance use recovery support — particularly meaningful in a state that has been significantly impacted by the opioid epidemic.

Online Application Available

West Virginia WIC offers an online pre-application at wvwichousehold.wvdhhr.org. After submitting the online form, a WIC clinic staff member will contact you to schedule your in-person certification appointment. To find your nearest clinic, visit dhhr.wv.gov/WIC.

Breastfeeding Support

West Virginia WIC prioritizes breastfeeding promotion and support, with lactation counselors available at clinics statewide. Breastfeeding mothers receive enhanced food packages with a higher monthly food benefit than formula-feeding mothers. WIC staff can help with breastfeeding questions from before delivery through the infant's first birthday.

Reorganized State Agency — Now Under Department of Health

Effective January 1, 2024, the former West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) was reorganized into three separate departments by the state legislature. West Virginia WIC is now administered under the West Virginia Department of Health (DH), Bureau for Public Health, Office of Nutrition Services. Benefits, clinic locations, and eligibility requirements were not affected by this reorganization.

Frequently Asked Questions — West Virginia WIC

West Virginia WIC Income Limits 2026

To qualify for West Virginia WIC, your household income must be at or below 185% of the federal poverty level. The income table on this page reflects the current federal guidelines. West Virginia uses the standard federal income thresholds — there are no state-specific adjustments.

When counting household size, a pregnant woman counts as herself plus one for each baby she is carrying. A woman pregnant with twins counts as three people.

Automatic Income Eligibility (Adjunctive Eligibility)

If your household already participates in any of the following programs, you automatically meet WIC's income requirement and do not need to provide separate income documentation at your appointment:

• West Virginia Medicaid
• SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program / food stamps)
• TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families — known in West Virginia as WV WORKS)

Bring proof of enrollment in one of these programs to your WIC appointment in place of income documents.

Other Eligibility Pathways

Foster children are categorically eligible for WIC under federal rules, regardless of household income. If you are applying on behalf of a foster child, bring documentation of foster care status.

If You Do Not Qualify Based on Income

Even if your income is above 185% of the federal poverty level, you may still be eligible if a WIC health professional determines you have a documented nutritional risk. A nutrition assessment is completed at every certification appointment.

Immigration Status

West Virginia WIC does not ask about immigration or citizenship status. The program is open to all eligible residents. Participation in WIC is not considered a negative factor in federal public charge determinations under immigration law.

Final eligibility is determined by WV WIC staff at your certification appointment. Contact your local WIC clinic or visit dhhr.wv.gov/WIC for the most current information.

West Virginia WIC Approved Foods

West Virginia WIC food benefits are loaded monthly onto an eWIC card, redeemable at more than 250 authorized grocery stores statewide. To activate a new card or reset your PIN, call 1-888-220-9555 or visit ebtEDGE.com. Benefits become available at midnight on the start date of each benefit period and expire at midnight on the end date — unspent benefits do not carry forward. Refunds, rain checks, and exchanges are not allowed in the West Virginia WIC program.

WICShopper App

The WICShopper app (available at EBTShopper.com or from your app store) lets you scan a product's UPC barcode in the store and instantly confirms whether it is WIC-approved for your household. Launch the app, select West Virginia, and scan before placing items in your cart. If an item does not scan as approved, use the "I couldn't buy this!" icon to report the UPC directly to the WIC program. West Virginia also offers WICSmart (WICSmart.com) — a separate nutrition education platform where you complete required nutrition lessons between appointments, not a shopping tool.

Fruits and Vegetables (Cash Value Benefit)

All participants receive a monthly Cash Value Benefit (CVB) for fresh, frozen, or canned fruits and vegetables. The amount is shown on your shopping list. Eligible items include fresh whole, pre-cut, or pre-chopped produce; canned fruit packed in 100% juice; frozen fruit packed in juice; and canned or frozen vegetables — all in metal, paper, glass, or plastic containers. Sweet potatoes, yams, and all colors of potatoes qualify. Organic produce is allowed. Single-serve options and fruit or vegetable trays without dips, dressings, or nuts are also eligible.

Not eligible with CVB: dried fruit or vegetables, juice, jams or jellies, pickled vegetables, condiments (salsa, sauerkraut, catsup, guacamole, pasta sauce), fresh or dried herbs and spices, soups, salad kits, ornamental produce, deli or salad bar items, processed frozen potatoes (french fries, tater tots, hash browns), creamed or sauced vegetables (including cream-style corn), and items with added sugars, sodium, fat, or oil. Canned beans such as pinto, great northern, navy, and kidney are purchased with legume benefits, not CVB. Green beans, snap beans, wax beans, green peas, orange beans, and edamame-style soybeans are CVB items only — they cannot be purchased with legume benefits.

Milk

The milk type issued depends on the participant's age. Children age 12–23 months receive whole milk in white, chocolate, or lactose-free varieties. Evaporated milk fortified with Vitamin D in 12 oz cans may be requested as an alternative. Two half-gallons may not be substituted for a gallon. Women and children age 2–5 receive low-fat (1%) or fat-free (skim) milk in white, chocolate, or lactose-free varieties (including super skim and ultra skim). Nonfat dry milk in a 25.6 oz box may be requested as an alternative.

Approved soymilk brands for both age groups: Pacific Ultra Original Soymilk, 8th Continent Regular Soymilk Original, 8th Continent Vanilla Soymilk, Silk Original Soymilk, Silk Shelf Stable Original Soymilk, and Great Value Original Soymilk. Light or fat-free soymilk, chocolate soymilk, Silk Vanilla Soymilk, almond milk, coconut milk, goat's milk, rice milk, A1® and A2® Milk, Vitamite, and organic milk are not covered.

Cheese

Any brand of 100% natural sliced, shredded, or block cheese in 8 oz or 16 oz packages. Approved varieties: Colby, Cheddar, Mozzarella (part skim or whole), American (pasteurized processed), Swiss, Monterey Jack, and blends of these. Low-fat, reduced-fat, fat-free, nonfat, low-cholesterol, low-sodium, calcium-fortified, Vitamin D–fortified, and lactose-reduced versions are all eligible. Not covered: organic cheese, lactose-free cheese, goat or sheep cheese, yogurt cheese, string cheese, cheese food, cheese product, imitation cheese, cream cheese, cheese dips or spreads, deli or imported cheese, kosher cheese, raw-milk cheese, cheese with added probiotics or DHA/ARA, cheese with pepper, pimento, herbs, spices, or wine/smoke flavorings, and random-weight or individual-serving packages.

Yogurt

Yogurt is issued in 32 oz containers or approved multipack formats. The fat tier depends on participant age.

Children age 12–23 months receive whole milk yogurt. Approved 32 oz brands (plain, vanilla, or strawberry): Dannon, Essential Everyday, Kroger, Morning Fresh Farms, Mountain High, Our Family, and Weis. Approved multipacks: Noosa 4 oz cup (4-pack) or Noosa 8 oz cup in any flavor.

Women and children age 2–5 receive low-fat or non-fat yogurt. Approved 32 oz brands include Best Choice, Coburn Farms, Dannon, Essential Everyday, Food Club, Food Lion, Giant, Giant Eagle, Great Value, Kroger, Lala, Morning Fresh Farms, Mountain High, Our Family, Weis, and Yoplait in plain, vanilla, strawberry, strawberry-banana, blueberry, peach, and probiotic varieties (brands vary by flavor). Approved multipacks (totaling 32 oz): Activia 4 oz cup (4-pack), Activia Lactose Free 4 oz cup (4-pack), Kroger 2 oz tube (8-pack), Yoplait Go-Gurt 2 oz tube (8-pack or 16-pack, except dairy free and slushie varieties), Yoplait 4 oz cup (8-pack), Great Value 2 oz tube (8-pack), and Coburn Farms Yo Whoa 2 oz tube (8-pack).

Not covered at either tier: Greek yogurt, organic yogurt, frozen yogurt, drinkable yogurt, yogurt sold with mix-in ingredients (granola, candy, nuts), and yogurt containing artificial or reduced-calorie sweeteners (Light and Fit, Carb Master, etc.).

Eggs

One dozen chicken eggs. All sizes and grades are eligible. White and brown eggs both qualify, including specialty varieties such as cage-free, free-range, stress-free, vitamin-enriched, antibiotic-free, vegetarian-fed, no-growth-hormones, fertile, or organic. Powdered, liquid, and hard-boiled eggs are not covered.

Juice

Juice must be 100% pasteurized, unsweetened fruit or vegetable juice in cans, plastic containers, jugs, or cartons only — no glass bottles and no individual serving sizes. Women receive frozen concentrate (12 oz) in apple, grape (white, purple, or red), orange (any brand), and pineapple (any brand). Approved apple and grape brands include Always Save, Best Choice, Best Yet, Essential Everyday, Flavorite, Food Club, Food Lion, Giant, Giant Eagle, Great Value, Hy-Top, IGA, Kroger, Our Family, Piggly Wiggly, Tipton Grove, Valu Time, and Weis. Welch's shelf-stable concentrate (11.5 oz) is approved for apple and grape. Apple and grape juice may be with or without added calcium.

Children receive shelf-stable or refrigerated juice in 64 oz or 128 oz containers. Approved flavors include apple, grape, tomato, vegetable (regular or low sodium), orange (any brand), and pineapple (any brand). Brands include Best Choice, Essential Everyday, Food Club, Food Lion, Giant, Great Value, Harvest Classic, Hy-Top, IGA, Kroger (vegetable juice in Original or Spicy), Our Family, Shurfine, Tree Top, and Weis. Not covered: grapefruit juice, Juicy Juice, juice blends, V8 Splash or Fusion, sports drinks, ciders, carbonated juice drinks, lemon or lime juice, organic juice, and fresh juice.

Breakfast Cereals

Hot and cold cereals in boxes or bags, 9 oz to 36 oz (General Mills Cheerios 8.9 oz rounds up to the 9 oz minimum). Single-serving boxes and packets are not allowed except for Quaker Instant Oatmeal original-flavor individual packets. Organic and variety-pack cereals are not covered.

Approved cold cereals include — General Mills: Cheerios Original, Multi-Grain Cheerios, Oat Crunch Berry, Kix Original, Kix Honey, Kix Berry Berry, Rice Chex, Corn Chex, Cinnamon Chex, Vanilla Chex, Blueberry Chex, and Fiber One Honey Clusters. Kellogg's: Corn Flakes, Crispix, Rice Krispies, Frosted Mini-Wheats (Original, Little Bites, Filled Mixed Berry, Cinnamon Roll), Special K, Special K Banana, Special K Protein Honey Almond Ancient Grains, Special K Protein Original Multi Grain Touch of Cinnamon, and All-Bran Complete Wheat Flakes. Post: Honey Bunches of Oats (Vanilla Bunches, Almonds, Honey Roasted, Maple & Pecans), Great Grains Banana Nut Crunch, and Great Grains Crunchy Pecan. Quaker: Life Original Only, Oatmeal Squares (Brown Sugar, Cinnamon, Golden Maple, Honey Nut). Malt-O-Meal: CoCo Wheats and Mini Spooners Strawberry Cream. Approved store-brand frosted shredded wheat options: Best Choice (regular and Maple Brown Sugar), Best Yet Strawberry, Essential Everyday Frosted Shredded Wheat Strawberry, Food Club Bite Size Strawberry Cream, Food Lion Frosted Shredded Wheat Strawberry, Kroger Strawberry Cream, and Weis Strawberry Frosted Shredded Wheat.

Whole Grains

Bread: Whole wheat and whole grain breads in 16 to 24 oz packages. Approved brands include Arnold, Best Choice, Brownberry, Essential Everyday, Food Lion, Giant, Giant Eagle, Great Value, Healthy Life, IGA, Kroger (including CARBMaster Whole Wheat), Lewis Bake Shop, Nature's Own (100% Whole Wheat with Honey; Sugar Free 100% Whole Grain), Nature's Promise, Nickles, Our Family, Pepperidge Farm (multiple varieties including Stone Ground, Very Thin, Light Style, Whole Grain Rye Seeded, Whole Grain 15 Grain, German Dark Wheat, Honey Whole Wheat, Whole Grain Oatmeal, Soft Sprouted Grain, and thin-sliced varieties), Private Selection, Sara Lee, Schmidt's Old Tyme, Schwebel's, Weis, and Wonder. Organic bread and unpictured brands are not covered.

Buns and rolls: Whole wheat and whole grain, 12 to 16 oz packages. Approved brands include Arnold (Sandwich Thins, Hamburger/Hot Dog Buns), Brownberry, Great Value, Kroger (Slider Buns, Hot Dog Buns, Hamburger Buns, Hoagie Rolls), Nature's Choice, Nature's Own, Pepperidge Farm, Schmidt Old Tyme Rolls, and Weis Quality White Wheat Rolls.

Tortillas: 16 oz packages only. Both whole wheat tortillas (made with whole wheat flour) and corn tortillas (made from ground masa flour) are covered. Whole wheat brands include Best Choice, Celia's, Chi-Chi's Fajita Style, Essential Everyday, Food Club, Food Lion, Giant, Giant Eagle, Great Value, IGA, Kroger, La Banderita, Mi Casa, Mission, Nature's Promise, Ortega, Our Family, Tio Santi, and Weis. Corn brands include Best Choice, Celia's, Chi-Chi's, Essential Everyday, Food Club, Giant, Giant Eagle, Hytop, IGA, Kroger Gluten Free, La Banderita, Mission, and Our Family. Flour tortillas, flavored tortillas, and organic, refrigerated, or frozen tortillas are not covered.

Brown rice: Any brand, 14 to 32 oz packages, without added sugars, fats, oils, or salt. May be instant, boil-in-bag, quick, or regular cooking. Not covered: basmati, wild, wehani, white, or jasmine rice; bulgur; barley; flours; seasoned or flavored rice; organic; refrigerated or frozen; ready-to-serve or single-serve; and brown rice mixed with other rice types.

Oats: Any brand of quick-cooking, regular, old-fashioned, or rolled oats without added sugars, fats, oils, or salt, in a 16 oz or 18 oz canister only. Steel cut, instant, organic, single-serve, boxed, and bagged oats are not covered. Instant oatmeal is purchased under breakfast cereal benefits, not the oats benefit.

Pasta: Whole wheat or whole grain, 16 oz packages only, without added sugars, fats, oils, or salt. Approved brands: Barilla Whole Grain, Essential Everyday Whole Wheat, Food Club Whole Wheat, Food Lion Whole Wheat, Giant Whole Wheat, Giant Eagle 100% Whole Wheat, Great Value Whole Wheat, Hodgson Mill Whole Wheat, Kroger 100% Whole Grain, Our Family Whole Wheat, Ronzoni Healthy Harvest Whole Grain, and Weis Whole Wheat. Approved shapes: angel hair, elbows, linguine, macaroni, penne, penne rigate, rotini, spaghetti, spirals, and thin spaghetti (brands vary by shape).

Legumes

Dried beans, lentils, or peas in any variety (including organic and mixed varieties) in 16 oz bags only. Any brand of canned beans — including fat-free refried beans — without added sugars, fats, oils, or meat, in 15 to 16 oz cans only. Canned beans may substitute for dried beans as shown on your eWIC benefit balance. Not covered: baked beans, pork and beans, canned chili, soups or soup mixes, beans with added flavorings or meat, hummus, gourmet-style beans, and bulk or loose beans. Green beans, snap beans, wax beans, green peas, orange beans, and edamame-style soybeans are Cash Value Benefit items and cannot be purchased with legume benefits.

Peanut Butter

Any brand of commercially prepared, pre-packaged peanut butter in 16 to 18 oz jars only. Plain, low-sugar, or low-sodium; smooth, crunchy, extra crunchy, and chunky styles all covered. Natural or organic varieties without palm oil are allowed. Not covered: reduced-fat, fat-free, low-carb, or peanut spreads; other nut or seed butters (almond, soy, sesame, sunflower, cashew, hazelnut, etc.); honey-roasted or honey-nut varieties; peanut butter combined with jelly, honey, chocolate, or marshmallow; whipped peanut butter; powdered peanut butter; peanut butter with added Vitamin E, DHA, or ARA; and individual or to-go serving sizes. Peanut butter is not recommended for children under one year of age due to choking risk.

Canned Fish

Canned fish is issued only to women who are fully breastfeeding, pregnant and breastfeeding, or pregnant with multiples. Approved species: Skipjack Tuna; any brand Chunk Light Tuna; Pink Salmon. Approved can sizes: 5 oz, 6 oz, 7.5 oz, or 14.75 oz. Not covered: sardines, Jack Mackerel, Albacore, Yellow Fin, Chunk White, Solid White, or Tongol tuna; Blueback, Chum, Sockeye, Red, King, or Coho salmon; pouches or foil packets; low-sodium varieties; flaked, grated, select, fancy, or solid pack; fish with added flavorings or spices beyond salt, oil, or water; organic; and fish and cracker combinations.

Infant Foods

Infant fruits and vegetables: Approved brands — Gerber, Tippy Toes, Nature's Promise Organic, Simple Truth Organic, Parent's Choice, Beech-Nut, Happy Baby Organic, Wild Harvest, Earth's Best Organic, Baby Basics, Home 360 Baby, and Nature's Goodness — single ingredient or combinations of single ingredients. Containers must be 2 oz or 4 oz only (single jars, 2-packs, or variety-pack boxes; jars and plastic both allowed). Organic, GMO, and non-GMO varieties all qualify. Not covered: pouches; mixtures with cereal; dinners, puddings, or desserts; DHA or ARA varieties; added sugars, starches, fiber, or sodium; fruit with yogurt; and Gerber Graduates or Heinz toddler products.

Infant cereal: Iron-fortified. Approved brands: Gerber, Parent's Choice, Beech-Nut, Earth's Best Organic, Kroger Comforts, Tippy Toes, and Baby Basics. Available grains: barley, oatmeal, rice, whole wheat, and multigrain. Package sizes: 8 oz or 16 oz boxes or plastic containers only. Not covered: jars or cans; variety packs or single-serving cups; high-protein varieties; and cereals containing infant formula, milk, fruit, fruit flakes, sugar, DHA, ARA, or probiotics.

Infant formula: Formula as issued on the eWIC card. Contact your WIC clinic before switching brands or types.

Infant meats are available for breastfeeding infants only. Approved brands: Beech-Nut, Gerber, Nature's Promise Organic, Tippy Toes, Earth's Best Organic, Baby Basics, and Nature's Goodness — single-ingredient meat or poultry with added broth or gravy, in 2.5 oz containers only (jars or plastic). Not covered: pouches; food combinations or dinners; DHA or ARA varieties; added sugars, starches, or sodium; chicken, turkey, or meat sticks; Gerber Graduates products; Beech-Nut Tummy Trays or Mini-Meals; Heinz toddler foods; and Nature's Goodness Toddler Cuisine.

Approved foods and benefit amounts are subject to change. The most current WV WIC Approved Foods list is available from your WIC clinic or at dhhr.wv.gov/WIC. Final eligibility and food package composition are determined by WIC staff at your certification appointment.