How To Apply For WIC In New York

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 New York 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 New York, then read the information provided below.

Do I qualify for New York WIC?
To qualify, you must be a:

• A pregnant woman
• An infant or child up to five years old
• A mother of a baby up to six months old OR
• A breastfeeding mother of a baby up to 12 months old
• Be a resident of New York State, but you do not need to be a U.S. citizen
• Meet the income eligibility guidelines OR receive benefits from Food Stamps, Medicaid or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
• Be assessed by a WIC health care professional

Fill out the WIC Prescreening Tool to find out if you might be eligible for WIC.

How do I apply for New York WIC?
Call your local agency to make an appointment.

• Find the local agency most convenient to you
• Call the Growing Up Healthy Hotline to locate the WIC Local Agency nearest to you: 1-800-522-5006

Each person applying for WIC benefits must go to the local agency to apply and be present at the time of application.

What to Bring to Your Appointment

• Proof of identity for each person applying
• Proof of where you live. The proof must show your actual street address, not a post office box
• Proof of income for each household member who works. Documentation must be for the last 30 days
• Proof of your participation in Medicaid, SNAP/Food Stamps or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
• Immunization records for children
• Confirmation of pregnancy - a statement from your health care provider with your baby's due date
• Any WIC Medical forms given to you by your health care provider

Call your WIC local agency for more information on acceptable forms of proof of identity, residency, and income or about participation in one of the programs listed above.

What to Expect at Your WIC Appointment
You will receive nutrition counseling focused on your needs and concerns. WIC staff promise to:

• Listen to your concerns and needs
• Provide help from experienced staff and peer counselors
• Share information based on science and experience, without influence from formula or other commercial companies
• Assist you in making the best decisions for you and your family
• Respect you and your decisions about feeding your children
• Help you breastfeed as long as you and your baby want to breastfeed
• Work with your community and hospital to promote and support breastfeeding and encourage healthy lifestyles

All information shared with WIC staff is confidential. Local agency staff will ask you for:

• Documents that prove who you are, where you live, participation in assistance programs and the income of each member of your household who works. All documents will be returned
• Your race and ethnicity. This information is for record keeping purposes only and does not affect your eligibility

WIC staff will conduct a short health screening for all family members applying for WIC. This screening includes a finger stick blood test, height and weight, and a discussion of your health and nutrition concerns.

WIC staff will determine which food packages are right for you and your children. If you choose not to breastfeed, your infant will be provided one of the formulas on the New York State WIC Approved Formulas list. You may need to get a WIC Medical Documentation Form completed by your health care provider if you or your children have special nutritional needs. You will receive:

• WIC food checks for each household member certified to use like checks at authorized WIC stores
• A WIC Acceptable Foods booklet, which lists all the foods and specific package sizes that you can purchase
• A WIC ID Card, which lists the names of everyone in the household on WIC
• Referrals to appropriate programs and services
• Breastfeeding support
• WIC Participant Rights and Responsibilities

You will be able to authorize someone else to bring your children to WIC appointments or pick up your WIC food checks. It is important to choose someone you trust, such as a spouse or partner or grandparent.