WIC Program / Got WIC? - Qualifying for WIC

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How do you qualify to participate in WIC?

WIC has two eligibility criteria:

1.  Income eligibility:  You will automatically qualify income-wise if you participate in TANF (Temporary Cash Assistance), Medicaid or the Food Assistance Program.  If you are employed, the gross income level of your household (before taxes and deductions) must fall below 185% of the poverty level.  Please refer to the table below for those levels of income based on household size*.

 

Family Size*	Weekly	Biweekly	Twice Monthly	Monthly	Annually
1	$398	$795	$862	$1,723	$20,665
2	$539	$1,077	$1,167	$2,333	$27,991
3	$680	$1,359	$1,472	$2,944	$35,317
4	$821	$1,641	$1,777	$3,554	$42,643
5	$961	$1,922	$2,083	$4,165	$49,969
6	$1,102	$2,204	$2,388	$4,775	$57,295
7	$1,243	$2,486	$2,693	$5,386	$64,621
8	$1,384	$2,768	$2,998	$5,996	$71,947
Additional Person	+$141	+$282	+$306	+$611	+$7,326
- - - Income Guidelines effective April 30, 2012 - - -

*Each unborn child counts as 1 extra person in the household size.

Standards for eligibility and participation in the WIC Program are the same for everyone regardless of race, color, national origin, age, handicap, or sex.

2.  Nutritional or medical risk: All participants in WIC will receive a health assessment to determine if they are at nutritional or medical risk.  

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Documenting Eligibility When you come to your WIC appointment, you will be asked to bring the following as documentation of eligibility:

Proof of identification:
Federal regulations require that all applicants provide the WIC Program with valid proof of identification for both the caretaker and the applicant. Some examples of acceptable identification are as follows:

• Baptismal certificate
• Birth certificate
• Applicant's school ID or record, recent
• Foster child placement letter/notice
• ID card for health, social services, or work
• Infant hospital records (for example, crib card, discharge papers)
• Immigration record
• Immunization record
• Marriage license
• Medical Records
• Military ID, U.S.
• Passport, U.S.
• Paycheck/stub with name
• Photo ID card, official
• Supplemental Security Income letter in applicant or client's name
• Unemployment documents in applicant or client's name
• Voter registration card

Proof of residency:
All applicants must provide documentation that they currently reside in the state of Florida.  Some examples of valid proof of residency are as follows:

• Proof of eligibilty from another assistance program
• Utility bill-electric or phone bill
• Bank Statement
• Client's school record, recent
• Driver's license
• Foster child placement letter/notice
• Housing, rent/mortgage agreement
• Paycheck/stub with name and address
• Photo ID card, official
• Property tax receipt, W-2 form for previous year
• Unemployment documents in applicant's or client's name
• Voter registration card

Physical Presence:
Federal regulations require that all applicants or clients seeking or continuing participation in the WIC program must be physically present, except in certain limited situations, at each certification.

Proof of Income:
All applicants or clients applying for WIC must provide proof of income eligibility.  As stated above if applicant/client is eligible and currently enrolled in Medicaid, Food Stamps or WAGES/TANF they automatically qualify for WIC.  If applicant/client is not enrolled currently in any of these programs they must provide WIC with written documentation of the total household/family income.

Income is determined by compiling the total gross income before deductions for income taxes, employee's social security taxes, insurance premiums, bonds, etc.  It also includes any money received or withdrawn from any source, including savings.  WIC regulations do not permit a household's gross income to be reduced for hardships, or any obligations that the family may have.

 

In accordance with Federal Law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call toll free (866) 632-9992 (Voice). Individuals who are hearing impaired or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800) 845-6136(Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.