WIC Eligibility â Who Qualifies for WIC Benefits?
WIC eligibility is based on four requirements that must all be met: categorical eligibility (who you are), income eligibility, nutritional risk, and state residency. Meeting all four criteria means you qualify for WIC â there is no point system or scoring.
The Four Eligibility Requirements
All four requirements must be met to qualify. There is no point system â meeting all four means you qualify.
Categorical
You must be a pregnant woman, postpartum woman, breastfeeding woman, infant (under 12 months), or child (under age 5).
Income
Household income at or below 185% of the federal poverty level â OR you receive SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF.
Nutritional Risk
A WIC health professional determines you have a nutrition-related medical or dietary condition. Almost all applicants qualify.
Residency
You must live in the state where you are applying. No minimum residency period is required.
Categorical Eligibility â Who Can Apply
WIC serves five groups of participants. You must belong to at least one group to qualify.
Pregnant Women
From the first day of pregnancy through delivery.
Postpartum Women
Up to 6 months after delivery or end of pregnancy, regardless of whether they breastfeed.
Breastfeeding Women
Up to 12 months after delivery if currently breastfeeding.
Infants
From birth up to their first birthday (under 12 months).
Children
From age 1 up to (but not including) their fifth birthday.
Income Eligibility (185% FPL)
WIC uses 185% of the federal poverty level (FPL) as its income limit. Specific dollar amounts are updated each year by HHS. See the current WIC income limits table for this year's figures by household size.
Income is counted as gross income (before taxes) from all household members.
Already on SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF?
You automatically meet WIC's income requirement. No income documentation needed â just bring proof of your SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF enrollment.
Nutritional Risk Requirement
A health professional at your WIC clinic â typically a nurse, nutritionist, or dietitian â will screen you or your child for nutritional risk conditions.
The nutritional risk screening happens at your appointment â you do not need to prepare anything specific for this requirement.
Residency Requirements
You must live in the state where you apply. There is no minimum residency period â you can apply as soon as you move to a state. You cannot receive WIC benefits from two different states at the same time.
Immigration Status and WIC
WIC does not require U.S. citizenship.
WIC is not considered in the public charge determination by USCIS.
U.S.-born children qualify regardless of parents' immigration status.
Many immigrants â including lawful permanent residents, refugees, and others â may qualify based on their immigration status and category. For complete details see WIC Eligibility for Immigrants.
How to Prove Eligibility
At your WIC appointment you will typically need to bring:
Frequently Asked Questions
You may qualify if you are pregnant, recently gave birth, are breastfeeding, or have a child under age 5 â AND your household income is at or below 185% of the federal poverty level (or you receive SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF). A WIC health professional will also screen for nutritional risk at your appointment. See the income limits table for current figures.
WIC uses 185% of the federal poverty level as its income threshold. The specific dollar amounts are updated annually by HHS. If you receive SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF, you automatically meet WIC's income requirement. See current figures at WIC Income Limits.
Yes. A father, guardian, or other caregiver can apply for WIC on behalf of an infant or child. The child is the WIC participant â not the parent â so the parent does not need to personally meet the categorical requirement. The household income is still assessed.
Many immigrants can receive WIC benefits. WIC does not require U.S. citizenship and is not considered in the public charge determination by USCIS. For details by immigration category, see WIC and Immigration.
WIC agencies may ask about immigration status for some applicants, but WIC does not require citizenship and does not report immigration status to immigration enforcement. WIC is explicitly excluded from the public charge rule. See WIC and Immigration for full details.
