WIC- Women Infants & Children's food

Formula shortage (6/22):

MA WIC and the Department of Public Health have posted information for families here (a brief overview) and more in depth information here.

Excerpts:

On February 20, 2022, DPH requested and received three federal regulatory waivers from USDA that provide additional flexibility in response to the shortages such as: (1) covering other formula brands (other than Abbott) without medical documentation, (2) covering varying, nonstandard container sizes and (3) retailers’ ability to exchange recalled formulas purchased with WIC benefits for non-identical but similar formula products.

As a result, Massachusetts WIC has added 8 more formula brands (including Mead Johnson and Gerber products, as well as a full range of private label/store brand options) and a total of 68 new formula products/can sizes that are now covered by WIC benefits.

MassHealth has made it easier for members and providers to access medically needed formula by waiving prior authorization at pharmacies for members with a prescription.
The Division of Insurance (DOI) and MassHealth are directing health plans to waive any prior authorization for formula needed for medical reasons for 90 days to prevent any undue delays in member access to specialty formula.

If families are experiencing challenges locating formula, they should contact their local WIC office, the 800-number on the back of their WIC Card, or by email to: wicinfo.dph@massmail.state.ma.us .

Patient Handouts from the CRC

Patient Handout- Food and Nutrition Assistance: Brief and Detailed Versions
Patient Handout- Overview of Community Resources (Spanish version, Haitian Creole version, Portuguese version, Traditional Chinese version) or see resources in nearby states on our CRC Patient Handouts page

Description:

The WIC Program safeguards the health of low-income women, infants, & children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk by providing food vouchers for nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and referrals to health care. WIC is not an entitlement program- meaning that one might be eligible but unable to get assistance if funds have been exhausted. The federal government appropriates funds and they are available until they run out. Massachusetts however supplements these funds so that, so far, no one who is eligible will be turned away. There is about an 85% participation rate in Massachusetts.

Benefits:

In most WIC State agencies, WIC participants receive checks or vouchers to purchase specific foods each month that are designed to supplement their diets. A few WIC State agencies distribute the WIC foods through warehouses or deliver the foods to participants’ homes. The foods provided are high in one or more of the following nutrients: protein, calcium, iron, and vitamins A and C. These are the nutrients frequently lacking in the diets of the program’s target population. Different food packages are provided for different categories of participants.

WIC foods include:

Milk, cheese, and yogurt
Hot or cold cereal
Whole grains, such as bread, rice, pasta, and tortillas
Peanut butter, beans, eggs, and tofu
100% fruit & vegetable juices
Infant foods
Canned fish for certain categories of participants
$ for fresh, frozen, or canned fruits and vegetables
Special therapeutic infant formulas and medical foods may be provided when prescribed by a physician for a specified medical condition (more on special formulas and how WIC and MassHealth work together on our Medical Food page).

How WIC works with SNAP

Not everyone who receives WIC is eligible for SNAP. WIC for instance does NOT have immigration status requirements.

But for those who are eligible for both, there are differences in the foods you can buy with each program. You can purchase most staple foods at the grocery store using SNAP, including basic foods that are typically prepared at home and eaten as a meal. Use your SNAP card to purchase foods that you cannot purchase with WIC. A few examples include cooking oil, spices, baking ingredients, healthy snacks, meat, and frozen meals.

WIC benefits expire at the end of the month; SNAP benefits stay on the account for 365 days- or even longer. Each time you use your card you restart the 365-day clock. So use WIC benefits first!

When Checking Out

Place all your items together, in any order, on the checkout counter. Note: At small grocery stores (with 1-2 cash registers) the orders need to be separated.

Give the cashier your coupons and/or store savings card first.

When the cashier tells you, swipe your WIC card first, and THEN your SNAP card.

Lastly, don’t forget to purchase all of your WIC foods before your benefit period expires, since they will not roll over to the next month! SNAP benefits stay on the account for 365 days. Just remember to always swipe your WIC card first, and THEN your SNAP card!

See the flyer for more information about how WIC and SNAP work together and maximizing benefits.

Eligibility:

The WIC target population are low-income, nutritionally at risk:

Pregnant women (through pregnancy and up to 6 weeks after birth or after pregnancy ends).
Breastfeeding women (up to infant’s 1st birthday)
Non-breastfeeding postpartum women (up to 6 months after the birth of an infant or after pregnancy ends)
- Post-partum women whose pregnancy did not result in a child (e.g., abortion, miscarriage) or whose child is not in their custody may be eligible/will not lose benefits as part of their initial 6 month post-partum period.
Infants (up to 1st birthday). WIC serves 45 percent of all infants born in the United States.
Children up to their 5th birthday.

They must meet income guidelines, a State residency requirement, and be individually determined to be at "nutritional risk" by a health professional.

To be eligible on the basis of income, applicants' gross income (i.e. before taxes are withheld) must fall at or below 185 percent of the U.S. Poverty Income Guidelines.

WIC Income Eligibility Guidelines

WIC Prescreening Tool/Calculator