Resources for New Moms

PREGNANCY
NEW BABY

Applying for WIC

Q:

I plan to breastfeed. I have Medicaid, so I know I am eligible for WIC. Will WIC help a breastfeeding mom?

Yes

Correct!

Yes! WIC mothers are encouraged to breastfeed their infants. WIC has promoted breastfeeding to all pregnant women as the best way to feed babies.

No

Incorrect!

Yes! WIC mothers are encouraged to breastfeed their infants. WIC has promoted breastfeeding to all pregnant women as the best way to feed babies.

What is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)?

WIC provides nutritious food, health care referrals, and nutrition education for certain pregnant or postpartum women and their children (up to age five) who are at risk for nutrition deficiencies. 

How WIC helps moms who breastfeed:

  • WIC mothers choosing to breastfeed are provided information through counseling and breastfeeding educational materials.
  • Breastfeeding mothers receive follow-up support through peer counselors.
  • Breastfeeding mothers are eligible to participate in WIC longer than non-breastfeeding mothers.
  • Mothers who exclusively breastfeed their infants receive an enhanced food package.
  • Breastfeeding mothers can receive breast pumps, breast shells or nursing supplements to help support the initiation and to keep breastfeeding.


In most WIC state agencies, WIC participants receive checks or vouchers to purchase specific foods each month that are designed to supplement their diets with specific nutrients. WIC foods include foods like infant cereal, iron-fortified adult cereal, vitamin C-rich fruit baby foods, and whole-wheat bread. 

Applying for WIC

To apply for WIC you have to contact your state or local agency to set up an appointment. Click here to find your state’s website or toll-free number.

The WIC program is designed to serve certain categories of women, infants, and children.

Women 
  • Pregnant (during pregnancy and up to 6 weeks after the birth of an infant or the end of the pregnancy). 
  • Postpartum (up to six months after the birth of the infant or the end of the pregnancy). 
  • Breastfeeding (up to the infant’s first birthday). 

Infants 

Up to the infant’s first birthday. 

Children 

Up to the child’s fifth birthday. 

Prescreen for eligibility

WIC has developed a prescreening tool. The WIC prescreening tool is a web-based application to help women interested in WIC see if they are likely to be eligible for WIC benefits. Click here to get started. 

You must live in the state or meet the residency requirements established by the Indian Tribal Organization (ITO) where you apply. 

To be eligible for WIC, you must have income at or below a level set by the state. You can automatically meet the income eligibility if you are enrolled in other programs, like SNAP benefits, Medicaid, or other state programs.

You must be seen by a health professional such as a physician, nurse, or nutritionist who determines whether you are at nutrition risk. In many cases, this is done in the WIC clinic at no cost to you.