WIC

How soon can you get WIC when you're pregnant?

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Image of Rachael Brennan
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You can apply for WIC as soon as you find out you’re pregnant. WIC stands for women, infants, and children and it provides money for food and other help (like breastfeeding support) for people who are pregnant or caring for children under five.

And you don’t have to be a mother to apply—many kinds of caretakers, including dads, grandparents, and foster parents, can get WIC.

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When can you sign up for WIC?#when-can-you-sign-up-for-wic

You are eligible for WIC from the moment you find out you’re pregnant.

At least twenty-nine WIC state agencies give some benefits in advance of the required nutrition assessment, so pregnant applicants can begin receiving food benefits as soon as their income is verified.

Other states, like Connecticut and New Jersey, require pregnant applicants to provide certain information, like a proof of pregnancy letter from a doctor, before benefits can start.

But if you qualify for WIC (meaning you’re pregnant or caring for a child under the age of five and have an income at or below 185% of the federal poverty level) you are eligible to sign up for WIC benefits at any time.

Does WIC do pregnancy tests?#does-wic-do-pregnancy-tests

While some WIC offices offer free pregnancy tests in certain situations, there isn’t a requirement to take a pregnancy test on-site to receive WIC benefits.

How much does WIC give a pregnant person per month?#how-much-does-wic-give-a-pregnant-person-per-month

Your full WIC package may vary, but pregnant WIC recipients can get $47 per month in cash specifically to purchase fruits and vegetables.

If you’re pregnant and sign up for WIC, you may also get the following as part of your food package:

  • 64 ounces of juice
  • 16 quarts of milk
  • 36 ounces of breakfast cereal (a regular box of cereal is usually 12-18 ounces)
  • 1 dozen eggs
  • 48 ounces of whole wheat bread
  • 10 ounces of canned fish (like tuna)
  • 1 pound of dry legumes or 64 ounces canned legumes (like black beans)
  • 18 ounces of peanut butter

Your food package can also be tailored specifically to your needs and dietary restrictions, so what you get may be different.

Who qualifies for WIC?#who-qualifies-for-wic

WIC is for anyone who is pregnant or caring for infants or children under five whose households are at or below 185% of the federal poverty line and are considered at nutritional risk.

The term “nutritional risk” may seem vague, but it is just a way to explain that benefits are available for people who have certain medical needs, like anemia, or people who are underweight or have had poor pregnancy outcomes in the past.

Even though WIC stands for women, infants, and children, it includes anyone who is pregnant and breastfeeding, as well as fathers, grandparents, foster families, and other caregivers to infants and children who qualify for WIC.

What other benefits can you get while pregnant?#what-other-benefits-can-you-get-while-pregnant

If you are pregnant and meet any set income requirements, you can apply for more than one benefit program, including:

You may also qualify for paid family leave, employee assistance programs, temporary disability insurance, or other benefits offered by your employer—when you sign up for WIC, you can also get help navigating other benefits you may be able to get during and after pregnancy.