How To Apply For WIC In Minnesota

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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota, then read the information provided below.

Who can participate in Minnesota WIC?
Women

• Pregnant Women
• Breastfeeding women who have had a baby within the past year
• Women who have had a baby within the past six months
• Women who have been pregnant within the past six months
• Infants from birth to 1 year of age
• Children from 1 year of age to their 5th birthday

Who can apply for the Minnesota WIC Program?

• Pregnant women
• Mothers and fathers with an infant or child under the age of 5
• Foster parent(s) or guardian(s) with an infant or child under age 5

What are the additional eligibility requirements for the WIC Program?
You must live in Minnesota

• Each state provides WIC benefits to its residents
• You will usually receive WIC services in the county where you live
• You do not need to be a U.S. citizen to be on WIC

You must have a medical or nutrition need.

• A "medical need" means that you or your child has health-based risks such as high or low weight, anemia, or a history of having low birth weight or premature babies.
• A "nutrition need" means that you or your child may have poor eating habits, lack variety in the foods eaten daily, or are not eating enough of certain nutrients (like calcium, iron or protein).
• Medical or nutrition needs will be assessed by a qualified health professional at your WIC appointment.

Participants in these programs are automatically income eligible:

• Medical Assistance
• Medical Assistance - TEFRA
• SNAP (Food Stamps)
• MN Family Investment Program (MFIP)
• Fuel Assistance
• Reduced or Free School Lunch
• Head Start
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

If the family is eligible under the MA guidelines but not yet enrolled, the family may be determined presumptively eligible if they plan to apply. You may qualify if you are pregnant, nursing, or have a child under age 5, we encourage you to apply.

WIC Provides:

• Nutrition tips and advice
• Support for breastfeeding
• Healthy foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grain cereals, bread and tortillas, low fat milk, and baby foods
• Caring and supportive staff

For information on Local WIC services call: 1-800-942-4030

WIC Income Guidelines

*Pregnant women count as 2 persons.

Automatic Adjunct Income Eligibility
If you or a family member is currently participating in any of the following programs, you and your family are adjunctively eligible for the WIC Program:

• Medical Assistance
• Medical Assistance - TEFRA
• SNAP (Food Stamps)
• MN Family Investment Program (MFIP)
• Fuel Assistance
• Reduced or Free School Lunch
• Head Start
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

If someone in your family is receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medical Assistance – TEFRA, the person receiving these benefits is adjunctively eligible for the WIC Program.

At your certification appointment, WIC will check to see if you or your child is eligible for WIC. Be sure to bring your infant or child with you to your WIC certification appointment! What information should you bring with you to the appointment?

Proof Of Identity
Bring any ONE item from the following list for EACH person who has an appointment:

• Baptismal Certificate
• Birth Certificate
• Crib Card
• Driver's License
• Health Benefits Card
• Passport
• Pay Stub
• Photo ID, School ID, State ID, or Work ID
• Social Security Card
• Social Service Benefits Card
• Tribal ID
• Voter Registration Card

Proof Of Address
Bring any ONE item from the following list for your ENTIRE family:

• Bill
• Driver's License
• Lease or Rental Agreement
• Mail Addressed to You
• Pay Stub
• Rent Receipt
• State ID
• Statement from Employer
• Statement from Landlord
• WIC Appointment Letter

Proof Of Participation - If applicable
If participating in any of the following programs, bring Proof of participation in any ONE of the following programs:

• Medical Assistance
• Food Stamps
• MN Family Investment Program (MFIP)
• Fuel Assistance Program
• Head Start
• Reduced or Free School Meals
• Social Security

OR

Proof Of Income
Bring any ONE item from the following list for EACH SOURCE OF INCOME in your household.

• Child Support Payments/Letter
• Pay Stub
• Payment Award Letter
• Pension or Annuity
• Statement from Employer
• Tax Form
• Unemployment
• Veteran's Payment
• W-2 Form

What kind of health and nutrition screening does WIC do at your appointment?

• Weight
• Height or baby's length
• Iron in the blood (Hemoglobin) - This is a simple finger stick for women, children and infants 9 months or older.

NOTE: If you or your child have been to the doctor within the past 60 days before your appointment and have had weight, height or blood iron measured, you can bring this information to your appointment. If you bring information from your doctor, it must be on a form from your medical provider or clinic and include:

• You or your child's name
• The date the measurements were taken
• What the measurements were
• The health professional's signature
• Questions about general health
• Discuss What You or Your Child Eats

What does WIC provide to you at the appointment?
Nutrition Education

• Women: Information about healthy eating during and after pregnancy
• Infants: Information about feeding babies as they grow, common problems including colic, constipation and crying
• Children: Information about healthy foods for happy children, helping your child to eat well, healthy snacking, valuable parenting skills and lots more

Breastfeeding Support

• Answers to your questions about breastfeeding
• Help to continue breastfeeding when you return to school or work
• Vouchers for extra WIC foods for breastfeeding moms

Referrals to Health and Other Services and Immunizations and food vouchers.

How long does a WIC appointment take?
A WIC certification appointment takes about 30 minutes for each person with an appointment. TIP: 30 minutes can seem like a long time to a child. Please bring a snack or favorite toy to help make the appointment easier for both you and your child.

How often do you have a WIC certification appointment?

• Pregnant women have one certification appointment while pregnant
• Breastfeeding women have one certification appointment after their baby is born and another short appointment at 6 OR 9 months after
• Women who aren't breastfeeding have one certification appointment after their baby is born
• Infants have a certification appointment soon after they are born, a short appointment at 6 OR 9 months and another certification appointment when they turn 1 year old
• Children have a certification appointment once a year with a short appointment in between after 6 months