How To Apply For WIC In Iowa
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, also know as WIC, is a program that is designed to help low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants, and children 5 years old or younger who are at nutritional risk. The Iowa WIC program accomplishes this by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information that can help provide healthy eating options including breastfeeding, and referrals to health care. If you are looking to know how to apply for WIC in Iowa, then read the information provided below.
How to Apply For Iowa WIC
To apply call your local WIC program to make an appointment. To find the agency closest to you:
- If you live in Iowa, call the state office at 1-800-532-1579
- If you live outside of Iowa, call the state office at 1-515-281-6650
Do I Qualify For WIC Benefits?
To find out if you qualify, you must:
- meet the income rules
- have an Iowa address, and
- have a medical or nutritional need
If you think you may qualify, please call your local WIC agency to make an appointment.
WIC Income Guidelines
Applicants with a gross income less than and including the amounts listed are income eligible for WIC services.
| Family Size | Annual Income | Monthly Income | Weekly Income |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $21,978 | $1,832 | $423 |
| 2 | $29,637 | $2,470 | $570 |
| 3 | $37,296 | $3,108 | $718 |
| 4 | $44,955 | $3,747 | $865 |
| 5 | $52,614 | $4,385 | $1,012 |
| 6 | $60,273 | $5,023 | $1,160 |
| 7 | $67,951 | $5,663 | $1,307 |
| 8 | $75,647 | $6,304 | $1,455 |
| 9 | $83,343 | $6,946 | $1,603 |
| 10 | $91,039 | $7,587 | $1,751 |
| 11 | $98,735 | $8,228 | $1,899 |
| 12 | $106,431 | $8,870 | $2,047 |
| 13 | $114,127 | $9,511 | $2,195 |
| 14 | $121,823 | $10,152 | $2,343 |
| 15 | $129,519 | $10,794 | $2,491 |
| 16 | $137,215 | $11,435 | $2,639 |
| Each add'l family member add | +$7,696 | +$642 | +$148 |
What Do I Need at my First Appointment?
After scheduling your WIC appointment you will need to bring with you:
- Proof of Iowa Address - Please bring proof of address to your appointment. One of the following items that have your current address on it will work: a current utility bill, a rent or mortgage receipt, or a driver's license, Iowa non-driver ID, voter registration and public assistance notification or identification such as Medicaid, hawk-I, FIP, and Food Stamps.
- Proof of Identity - Please bring proof of identity to your appointment. Examples of acceptable forms of I.D. include: valid driver's license, non-driver I.D., passport/visa, social security card, work or school I.D. card, Medicaid or Health Benefit card, pay stubs, Matricula Consular Card, immunization record, other medical or health record (including crib cards), birth certificate, voter registration, and WIC identification card ("blue card").
- Proof of Income - Please bring proof of your household income. Some examples of proof to bring in are pay stubs, unemployment benefit checks, award notices, business records, a signed statement from your employer, or income tax forms. Applicants certified as eligible for certain other assistance programs are automatically income eligible for the WIC program. Please bring proof of the following to automatically qualify as income eligible: certified as eligible to receive Food Stamps, Medicaid or FIP; presumptively eligible for either FIP or Medicaid; applicant for Medicaid Home and Community Based Ill and Handicapped Services, Mental Retardation, AIDS/HIV, or Brain Injured Waiver Program; member of a household with a FIP recipient or a pregnant woman or an infant currently on Medicaid.
I Did Not Qualify for WIC. How Do I Appeal this Decision?
You have the right to a hearing if you wish to appeal this decision. Your appeal rights are explained below.
- Send a written request for a hearing to your local WIC agency within 90 days of receiving this notice
- The hearing officer will schedule a hearing within 21 days of receiving your request. You will receive notice of the time, place and date at least 10 days before the hearing
- Before and during the hearing, you have the right to read all of the public documents on file about the decision that is under appeal
- During the hearing you may speak for yourself or be assisted by a relative, friend, other person, or lawyer at your expense; bring witnesses; question or refute any testimony or evidence; question any adverse witnesses; and provide evidence to establish facts and circumstances related to your case
- The local hearing officer will issue a written decision within 45 days of your request for the hearing unless a longer time period is agreed upon by both parties
- Either party may appeal the written decision to the Division Director, Division of Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention, Iowa Department of Public Health. This appeal must be made within 15 days of the mailing date of the decision made by the local hearing officer. The procedures listed above must be followed for a second appeal about the decision