WIC Program - Women, Infants, Children
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) offers nutrition education, breastfeeding support, referrals and a variety of nutritious foods to low-income pregnant, breastfeeding or postpartum women, infants and children up to age five to promote and support good health.
WIC improves the health of pregnant women, new mothers and their infants and children. The foods provided through WIC are a good source of nutrients often missing from the diets of women and young children. WIC participants have longer, healthier pregnancies and fewer premature births.
WIC's mission is to partner with you and your family providing:
- Breastfeeding support and peer counselors
- Nutrition education focused on your needs
- Healthy lifestyle promotion and support
- Convenient hours, locations and services
- Referrals to other health and social services
- Individualized food packages
For more information on WIC go to:
- The New Look of WIC
- WIC Food Packages
- WIC and Breastfeeding
- WIC Participant Handbook
- WIC Supports Healthy Lifestyles
Do I qualify for 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 WIC benefits?
Call your local agency to make an appointment.
- View a listing of local agencies providing WIC services.
- Call the Growing Up Healthy Hotline to locate the WIC Local Agency nearest to you: 1-800-522-5006
Forms You May Need for Your WIC Appointment
- WIC Medical Referral Form for Women (PDF, 121KB, 1pg) – This form is completed by your health care provider. It provides information WIC needs to certify a woman for the program.
- WIC Medical Referral Form for Infants and Children (PDF, 123KB, 1pg) ) – This form is completed by your health care provider. It provides information WIC needs to certify an infant or child for the program.
- Medical Documentation Form (for WIC Formula and Approved WIC Foods) (PDF, 324KB, 1pg.) – This form is completed by health care provider when a woman or child needs a special formula and/or can not eat all the foods WIC provides.
- Verification of Certification (VOC) Request Form (PDF, 122KB, 1pg) – This form is used to request a to transfer to another WIC Program if you did not obtain the VOC Card from your WIC Program.
- Authorization Form (PDF, 152KB, 1pg) – This form allows someone else to participate in the WIC Certification process and/or pick up WIC food instruments with your permission.
For More Information...
- Health Care Providers
- Vendors
- More New York State Nutrition Programs
- Helpful Nutrition Information
- Reporting Waste, Fraud and Abuse: The Bureau of Special Investigations (BSI)
- WIC Forms You May Need for Your WIC Appointment
USDA and NYS Nondiscrimination Statements
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 to USDA, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call toll-free at (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.
New York State prohibits discrimination based on creed, marital status and sexual orientation. Persons who believe they have been discriminated against based on the New York State Human Rights Law should call the Growing Up Healthy Hotline at 1-800-522-5006, or write to the WIC Program Director, NYSDOH, Riverview Center, 6th Floor West, Room 650, 150 Broadway, Albany NY 12204.
