By calling the main office at (209) 558-7377Īfter a short screening process, the person is given an enrollment appointment.Nutritional Need: The applicant must have a health problem (nutritional need) which can be improved with good nutrition.Income: The applicant’s family income must be within WIC guidelines.Residence: The applicant must live in Stanislaus County.
Category: An applicant must be in one of the categories served by WIC.There are four guidelines used to determine if an applicant is eligible to participate in WIC. When the individual moves, they can call the new WIC office for an appointment and take the special card to the WIC appointment in the new area or state.Determining WIC Eligibility WIC Eligibility & Applying In most cases, WIC staff will give the participant a special card which proves that the individual participated in the WIC Program. Before a participant moves, they should tell the WIC office. WIC participants who move can continue to receive WIC benefits until their certification period expires as long as there is proof that the individual received WIC benefits in another area or state. WIC participants who move from one area or state to another are placed at the top of a waiting list when they move and are also served first when the WIC agency can serve more individuals. Click here for more info about the Waiting List/Priority System. The purpose of the priority system is to make sure that WIC services and benefits are provided first to participants with the most serious health conditions such as anemia (low blood levels), underweight, history of problems during pregnancy. WIC agencies then use a special system, called a Priority System, to determine who will get WIC benefits first when more people can be served. When this happens, WIC agencies must keep a list, called a waiting list, of individuals who want to apply and are likely to be served. Sometimes WIC agencies do not have enough money to serve everyone who needs WIC or calls to apply. Depending on whether the individual is pregnant, postpartum, breastfeeding, an infant, or a child, an eligible individual usually receives WIC benefits from 6 months to a year, at which time s/he must reapply. A certification period is the length of time a WIC participant is eligible to receive benefits. Therefore, a participant will "graduate" at the end of one or more certification periods. Many of the state agencies listed provide a toll-free number for you to call and/or a website about the WIC Program operating in that area. Nutrition Risk (Click here for details about WIC's eligibility requirements.)Ĭontact the WIC state or local agency serving your area to schedule an appointment. Applicants will be advised about what to bring to the WIC appointment to help determine eligibility.Ĭlick here for a listing of the toll-free numbers of WIC state agencies or click here for a listing of WIC state agencies.To be eligible for the WIC Program, applicants must meet all of the following eligibility requirements: In general, WIC is administered in each state or territory by state health departments or Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs). Seniors Farmers' Market Nutrition Program.Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations.Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion.