WIC Holiday Schedule â When WIC Offices Are Closed
WIC offices close on federal holidays, but WIC-authorized grocery stores do not. That distinction matters more than most people realize â and getting them confused is what leads to unnecessary panic at the end of a holiday weekend.
Federal Holidays When WIC Offices Close
WIC agencies follow the federal holiday schedule set by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The federal government observes 11 holidays each year:
When a holiday falls on a Saturday, the preceding Friday is typically observed as the holiday. When it falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is observed. That means the actual closure date shifts year to year â a holiday that closes offices on a Tuesday one year may close them on a Monday the next.
For exact dates in the current year, the official source is the U.S. Office of Personnel Management at opm.gov.
Individual states may also observe state holidays beyond the 11 federal holidays. Contact your state WIC agency for their complete closure schedule.
WIC Offices Close â But Grocery Stores Don't
Your WIC card still works at the store on holidays.
Thanksgiving, Christmas, Labor Day â you can still shop at any WIC-authorized store with whatever benefits are loaded on your card. The closure affects the office and the phones, not the card.
What you can't do during a closure: schedule appointments, speak to WIC staff, resolve problems with your benefits, or complete certification or recertification. If you need something that requires talking to a person, you'll have to wait until the office reopens.
If Your Certification Expires Near a Holiday
Don't wait until the final week to recertify.
If your certification expires near a holiday and you haven't recertified, you may face a gap in benefits you can't resolve until the office reopens.
The solution is straightforward: don't wait. Schedule your recertification appointment well before your certification expires â not in the final week. If a holiday is coming up and your certification date is close, contact your WIC agency before the closure to either move up your appointment or ask how they handle this situation. Most agencies are used to this and will work with you to prevent a gap if you reach out ahead of time.
If your benefits have already lapsed due to a holiday closure, call the agency as soon as they reopen. Ask about any options for recovering the lapsed benefit period.
Planning Ahead
Two things make holidays genuinely stressful for WIC participants: a certification that expires during a closure, and unused benefits that expire at the end of the month. Both are avoidable with a little advance attention.
Keep your WIC agency's phone number saved. When holidays create problems, the faster you can reach the right person after they reopen, the better.
Contact Your State WIC Agency
For specific holiday closure dates, including state-specific holidays, contact your state WIC agency directly. Use the state selector below to find your state's WIC contact information.
WIC office hours vary by state and local agency.
Select your state to find your state WIC agency contact information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some WIC agencies offer Saturday appointments, but this varies by state and clinic. Most WIC offices are open during regular business hours on weekdays. Contact your local WIC clinic directly to ask about weekend availability.
Yes. Your WIC EBT card can be used at WIC-authorized stores during a holiday â WIC office closures do not affect your ability to shop with benefits already loaded on your card. The closure only affects your ability to schedule appointments or contact agency staff.
If your scheduled WIC appointment falls on a federal holiday, the appointment will be rescheduled. Your WIC agency will typically notify you in advance. If you are unsure, contact your clinic to confirm your appointment is still scheduled.
