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Special
Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
WIC's
goal is to improve the health of low-income pregnant, breastfeeding
and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, as well as infants and children
up to 5 years of age. WIC provides supplemental foods, nutrition
education, and access to health services for participants free of
charge. Folks who are eligible for WIC receive vouchers that can
be redeemed at various food stores for specific foods that are meant
to improve the health and diet of mothers and children.
The WIC Program is designed to serve certain categories of women,
infants, and children. In order to be eligible, you must:
- be
a pregnant, breastfeeding, or postpartum woman; or
- have
an infant or children up to five years of age;
- meet
a State residency requirement;
- be
at nutritional or medical risk as determined by a WIC-certified
professional authority; and
- be
within the income guidelines set by the State OR be receiving
Food Stamps, Medicaid or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
(TANF). You may also be eligible if certain family members are
eligible to receive Medicaid or TANF.
WIC
does not require proof of citizenship.
WIC
participants are also eligible for the WIC
Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program.
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:
(Effective from July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007)
Number
of
people in Family |
Annual
Income Guidelines |
Monthly
Income
Guidelines |
1 |
$18,130
|
$1,511 |
2 |
$24,420 |
$2,035
|
3 |
$30,710
|
$2,560 |
4 |
$37,000 |
$3,084
|
5 |
$43,290
|
$3,608 |
6 |
$49,580
|
$4,132 |
7 |
$55,870
|
$4,656 |
| 8 |
$62,160
|
$5,180 |
|
For
each add'l
family member, add |
+6,290
|
+525
|
Call
the Growing Up Healthy Hotline to locate the WIC local agency nearest
to you:
1-800-522-5006.
WIC
is not an entitlement program. It is a federal grant program for
which Congress has to set a funding level. As a result, if a local
WIC office reaches its maximum capacity of clients, certain priorities
are placed on eligibility. The Food and Nutrition Service (a Federal
agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture) administers the program
at the federal level and provides funds to WIC state agencies to
pay for WIC foods, nutrition services, and other costs. The Department
of Health administers WIC on the state level:
Frances
Porter, WIC Director
Bureau of Supplemental Food Programs
Division of Nutrition
New York State Department of Health
150 Broadway, Fl. 6, West
Albany, NY 12204-2719
Telephone: (518) 402-7093
toll-free line for information and to locate local WIC office: 1-800-522-5006
Fax: (518) 402-7348
Email: NYSWIC@health.state.ny.us
website: http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/nutrition/wic/pages/about.htm
USDA’s
WIC site:
http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/
Farmers’
Market Nutrition Program
Food
Stamp Program
School
Meal Programs
Summer
Food Service Program
WIC
Program
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