How to Apply for WIC in Wisconsin

Applying for WIC in Wisconsin

Wisconsin WIC allows you to start the application process online or by phone before your in-person certification appointment. The program serves all 72 Wisconsin counties through 61 local WIC agencies, and many agencies offer phone and video appointment options for follow-up visits once you are enrolled.

Step 1: Start Your Pre-Application Online or By Phone

Visit dhs.wisconsin.gov/wic/apply to start your pre-application online, or contact your local WIC office directly. Local agencies are listed on that page by county. You can also call the Well Badger Resource Center at 800-642-7837 (Monday–Friday, 7 a.m.–6 p.m.) or text "WB" to 608-360-9328 for assistance finding your nearest WIC agency.

Many agencies will also send you a link to set up a Family Portal account, which lets you submit proof of identity, address, and income documents electronically ahead of your appointment.

Step 2: Gather Your Documents

Bring the following to your certification appointment, or submit them online through the Family Portal if your agency offers that option:

• Proof of identity for yourself and each child applying — a driver's license, birth certificate, military ID, tribal ID card, passport, or hospital ID/crib card for infants. If you don't have standard ID, talk to your WIC office — alternatives are accepted.
• Proof of Wisconsin residency — a current utility bill with a street address (no P.O. boxes), a rent or mortgage receipt, or similar documentation.
• Proof of income — pay stubs from the last 30 days (four if paid weekly, two if bi-weekly, one if monthly), plus documentation of Social Security, SSI, unemployment, and child support. If you receive FoodShare, BadgerCare Plus, Wisconsin Works (W-2), TANF, FDPIR, Kinship Care, or Foster Care, bring that enrollment documentation instead — it replaces income proof.
• Confirmation of pregnancy if applicable — a statement from your healthcare provider or an ultrasound with your name and date. Home pregnancy tests are not accepted.

Step 3: Your Certification Appointment

At your first appointment, WIC staff will verify your documents, take height and weight measurements, and may conduct a small finger-stick blood test to check hemoglobin (iron) levels. Staff will discuss your health and nutrition needs, determine your food package, and load your first month of benefits onto your eWIC card. You will also receive information about the Wisconsin MyWIC app and the ONE nutrition education platform.

Some agencies offer video or phone appointments for certain follow-up visits once you are enrolled — ask your local agency what remote options are available.

Kinship Care and Foster Children

Wisconsin WIC explicitly extends eligibility to foster children and Kinship Care recipients under age 5, as well as foster teens who are pregnant. These children are eligible for WIC regardless of the foster or kinship family's income. Bring placement documentation or the foster parent award letter to the appointment.

Recertification

Wisconsin WIC recertifies participants every three months for most categories. At each recertification appointment, you will update your health information, receive new food benefits, and get referrals to any additional services your family may need. The Wisconsin MyWIC app and the ONE nutrition platform keep you connected between appointments. Contact your local WIC agency before your certification period ends to schedule your next appointment and avoid a gap in benefits.

Application FAQ — Wisconsin WIC

More Wisconsin WIC Resources