WIC Benefits â What Does WIC Provide?
WIC provides four core types of benefits to eligible participants: supplemental food packages, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to health and social services. Benefits vary by participant type (pregnant, postpartum, breastfeeding, infant, or child) and by state.
Food Benefits
Monthly food package loaded onto your WIC EBT card â milk, eggs, grains, produce, formula, and more.
Nutrition Education
One-on-one counseling from a WIC nutritionist or dietitian at every appointment.
Breastfeeding Support
Peer counseling, lactation consultations, education materials, and breast pumps for eligible mothers.
Health Referrals
Connections to prenatal care, immunizations, dental care, mental health services, SNAP, and other local programs.
WIC Food Benefits
WIC participants receive a monthly food package delivered via a WIC EBT card (or vouchers in some states). The food package includes specific nutritious foods selected by USDA FNS to address common nutrient gaps among the populations WIC serves.
For the complete list of covered categories, see WIC Approved Foods. For how to use your benefits at the store, see WIC EBT Card.
Nutrition Education
WIC provides nutrition counseling and education at each certification and recertification appointment. A WIC nutritionist or registered dietitian reviews your dietary needs, health conditions, and goals. Education may cover topics such as healthy eating during pregnancy, infant feeding, introducing solid foods, and managing childhood obesity.
Breastfeeding Support
WIC is one of the largest providers of breastfeeding support in the United States. Services include peer counseling, lactation consultations, and access to breastfeeding education materials. Many state WIC programs also provide breast pumps to eligible mothers who are separated from their infants or returning to work.
Breastfeeding mothers receive an enhanced food package with more food and a longer certification period. See WIC Benefits for Breastfeeding Mothers.
Referrals to Other Services
WIC staff connect participants with other healthcare and community services they may need, including prenatal care, immunizations, dental care, substance abuse treatment, mental health services, and other federal and local food assistance programs such as SNAP and school meal programs.
WIC Food Packages by Category
WIC food packages are tailored to each participant type. Main food categories included across participant types:
Specific items and quantities depend on your participant category. Approved brands vary by state.
WIC Benefits by Participant Type
Select your category to see exactly what WIC provides for you:
Frequently Asked Questions
WIC provides a monthly food package that may include dairy (milk, eggs, cheese), whole grains, iron-fortified cereals, 100% juice, fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables (via a Cash Value Benefit), legumes, canned fish (for breastfeeding women), and infant formula. The specific items and quantities depend on your participant category. See WIC Approved Foods.
WIC benefits are loaded onto a WIC EBT card that works like a debit card at authorized grocery stores. You can only purchase the specific WIC-approved items with the card. See WIC EBT Card for more details.
WIC covers infant formula for formula-fed infants, but does not cover diapers. Formula coverage is limited to state-contracted brands, though medical exemptions exist for special formulas. See WIC Formula Coverage.
Many state WIC programs provide breast pumps to breastfeeding mothers who need them, particularly those returning to work or separated from their infants. Contact your state WIC agency or see your state's WIC page for specifics.
The length of your WIC certification depends on your participant category. Children may be certified for up to one year at a time and are eligible until their fifth birthday. Pregnant women are certified through delivery. Breastfeeding women can receive WIC for up to 12 months after delivery. See the specific page for your category for details.
