WIC Card Guide: How Your Benefits Are Issued and Used

The WIC EBT card (often just called a “WIC card”) is how most Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) programs now provide food benefits. Instead of paper checks or vouchers, your monthly food package is loaded onto a plastic card that works somewhat like a debit card at approved stores.

This guide explains how WIC benefits are issued, how to use your WIC card, and what to do if you have problems—so you can navigate the process more confidently through official WIC offices and websites.

HowToGetAssistance.org is an informational resource only. It is not a government office, not an application site, and cannot check your case or load benefits. For any action on your case, you will need to contact your local WIC agency or state WIC office.

What Is the WIC Card and How Does It Work?

Most states now use an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card for WIC. Each state may call it something slightly different (for example, “eWIC” or “WIC EBT”), but the idea is the same:

• You are issued one plastic card per household (in most areas).
• Your monthly WIC food benefits are loaded electronically.
• You use the card at authorized WIC grocery stores and pharmacies.
• Approved items scan against your benefits and are deducted automatically.

Key Differences from SNAP/EBT

Many people have both SNAP and WIC benefits, but they are separate programs:

• SNAP: A set dollar amount you can spend on most foods.
• WIC: A specific package of foods (for example, “36 oz of whole-grain cereal,” “1 dozen eggs,” “1 gallon milk,” certain baby formula, etc.).

Your WIC card tracks quantities and types of items, not a cash balance.

Who Typically Qualifies for WIC

Eligibility rules are set by each state within federal guidelines. In many areas, WIC is generally for:

• Pregnant people
• Postpartum people (usually up to 6 months after pregnancy, longer if breastfeeding—often up to 1 year)
• Infants
• Children under age 5

Other common requirements include:

• Income below a certain limit (varies by household size and state)
• State residency (you usually must live in the state where you apply)
• Being considered “nutritionally at risk” by a WIC health professional, based on basic health and diet screening

Because details differ by state and sometimes by county, it’s important to call your local WIC office or visit your state’s official WIC website to confirm who qualifies where you live.

How WIC Benefits Are Issued to Your Card

Once you are approved for WIC, your benefits are usually set up during an appointment called a benefits issuance or food package appointment. This may be in person, by phone, or video, depending on your local office.

Step 1: Initial Certification

Your first WIC appointment (often called a certification or enrollment appointment) usually includes:

• Verifying identity, residency, and income
• A basic health and nutrition screening
• Determining which household members qualify (pregnant person, infant, children under 5)

If you’re found eligible, WIC will create a food package for each participant (for example, one for the pregnant person and one for each child under 5).

Step 2: Card Issuance

After approval, many agencies will:

• Issue a WIC EBT card to the parent/guardian or participant
• Have you sign a cardholder agreement or rights-and-responsibilities form
• Help you set up a 4-digit PIN for your card

In some areas, you receive your card on the same day as your appointment; in others, it may be mailed to you. Your local office will tell you which applies in your area.

Step 3: Loading Your Monthly Benefits

WIC food benefits are usually:

• Loaded monthly to your WIC card
• Assigned by individual participant, but stored together on the same card
• Based on the participant’s category (pregnant, breastfeeding, infant, toddler, etc.)

A typical process might look like:

1. WIC staff explains what each person in your family gets (for example, child A gets milk, cereal, juice, fruits/vegetables; infant B gets formula).
2. They load the first month’s benefits onto your card.
3. They schedule your next WIC appointment (often a follow-up check-in or recertification at a set interval).

Do Unused WIC Benefits Roll Over?

In many states, WIC benefits do not roll over from month to month. If you do not use certain items by the end of your benefit cycle, they typically expire and are not added on top of the next month’s benefits.

Check your printed benefit list, app, or WIC office materials to see your exact start and end dates for each month.

What Documents You Usually Need for WIC and Card Setup

Requirements vary, but many WIC offices ask for:

1. Proof of Identity (for you and sometimes for each child)

• Photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, school ID)
• Birth certificate
• Passport
• Hospital or clinic record with the child’s name and date of birth

2. Proof of Residency

• Current utility bill with your name and address
• Lease or rental agreement
• Official mail addressed to you at your current address

3. Proof of Income (for all working adults in the household, depending on rules)

• Recent pay stubs
• Letter from employer
• Unemployment or disability benefit letters
• Documentation of participation in Medicaid, SNAP, or TANF may also be accepted in many places

4. Health-Related Information

• Immunization records (for children, in some areas)
• Name of your doctor or clinic
• Any forms your local WIC office asks you to bring

If you are missing a document, call your WIC clinic before your appointment. In many cases, they can suggest what alternatives may be accepted.

How to Activate and Protect Your WIC Card

Each state has its own process, but you typically need to:

1. Set a PIN

   • This is usually done either:
     • Over the phone using an automated WIC card line, or
     • In person with help from WIC staff
   • Choose a 4-digit PIN that is easy for you to remember but hard for others to guess.

2. Sign the back of your card

   • Some stores may compare your signature to a receipt.

3. Store it safely

   • Treat your WIC card like a debit card.
   • Do not give your PIN to friends, neighbors, or anyone not on your case.

4. Memorize your PIN

   • Writing your PIN directly on the card or keeping it with the card can put your benefits at risk.

How to Check Your WIC Card Balance and Benefits

You can typically check your WIC balance in several ways, depending on your state:

• At the store receipt: After each purchase, your remaining items are usually printed at the bottom of the receipt.
• Customer service phone number: Your card may have a toll-free number on the back to check balance and recent activity.
• WIC mobile app (in many states): Some states provide an official app where you can:
  • See remaining benefits
  • Check which foods are allowed
  • Find WIC-approved stores
• WIC office or clinic: Staff can often print or show your current month’s benefits.

Look closely at expiration dates. Benefits are often listed with a start date and end date for each item category.

Where You Can Use Your WIC Card

You can only use your card at WIC-authorized vendors. These are usually:

• Grocery stores
• Some big-box retailers
• Certain pharmacies (especially for formula)
• In some areas, small neighborhood markets

Look for:

• A WIC logo or sign at the store entrance or checkout, or
• A vendor list provided by your local WIC office or state WIC website

If you are not sure, ask customer service:
“Do you accept WIC EBT?”

How to Use Your WIC Card at the Store

The exact checkout process can differ by state and by store, but this is the general idea:

Step-by-Step at Checkout

1. Gather only WIC-eligible items you plan to buy
   • Use your WIC food list, app, or labels in the store to choose approved brands, sizes, and types.
2. Separate WIC items from non-WIC items (if required in your state)
   • Ask the cashier if they need separate transactions or separate groupings.
3. Scan your WIC card
   • Insert/swipe the card when the cashier tells you, or at a self-checkout if permitted.
4. Enter your PIN
   • Carefully enter your 4-digit PIN and press Enter/OK.
5. Confirm what is covered
   • The system will automatically subtract eligible WIC items from your benefits.
   • If something is not covered, it will either:
     • Be left for you to pay with another payment method (cash, SNAP, debit/credit), or
     • Be removed from the transaction if you choose not to buy it.
6. Review your receipt
   • The receipt should show:
     • Which items were paid by WIC
     • Your remaining benefits for this month

💡 Tip: Before going to the store, review your benefit printout, app, or last receipt so you know how much milk, cereal, fruits/vegetables, formula, etc., you still have.

Typical WIC Card Timeline: From Approval to Use

Here’s a simplified look at what often happens:

Your local WIC office controls when benefits start and stop, so always read any letters and messages you receive from them.

Common Shopping Challenges and How to Handle Them

1. Item Won’t Scan as WIC-Covered

This can happen if:

• The brand or size is not on your state’s approved list
• You’ve already used up that category (for example, no milk left for the month)
• The store’s system is not updated

What you can do:

• Ask the cashier to check the WIC list or call a supervisor.
• Use your state WIC app (if available) to scan the barcode and see if it is approved.
• If it still won’t go through and you cannot pay out of pocket, you can ask the cashier to remove the item.

2. Not Enough Benefits Left

If your benefit balance doesn’t cover everything:

• You can:
  • Pay the difference with cash, SNAP, or another method (if only part is covered), or
  • Remove some items from your order.
• Next time, check your remaining benefits before shopping to avoid surprises.

3. Problems with the Card or PIN

If your card isn’t working, the PIN is locked, or you forget it:

• Call the card customer service number on the back of the card.
• Contact your local WIC office for instructions on:
  • Resetting your PIN
  • Requesting a replacement card if lost or damaged
• In some states, too many wrong PIN attempts can temporarily lock the card. Waiting until the next day or calling the service line can often fix this.

What Happens if Your WIC Card Is Lost, Stolen, or Damaged

If your WIC card is lost, stolen, or doesn’t work:

1. Call the number on the back of the card (if you still have the number somewhere) or call your local WIC office.
2. Report the card as lost or stolen so benefits can be protected.
3. Follow instructions from the WIC office about:
   • Getting a replacement card
   • Whether any remaining benefits will be transferred
4. You may need to show ID at the clinic to get a new card.

Most states cannot replace benefits that someone else has already spent if they had your card and PIN, so protecting your PIN is critical.

Recertification and Ongoing WIC Benefits

WIC is not permanent; you must recertify periodically to keep receiving benefits. The timing and process vary, but you can usually expect:

• Check-in appointments during pregnancy and early childhood
• Growth and health assessments for children
• Review of income and residency from time to time

If you do not attend scheduled appointments or do not respond to mail, texts, or calls from WIC:

• Your benefits may stop at the end of your current benefit period.
• Your card might still work for the current month but not be reloaded afterward.

If you’re not sure about your status, call your local WIC clinic to ask when your benefits end and whether you need a recertification appointment.

Common Reasons WIC Benefits Get Delayed or Interrupted

People sometimes experience delays or gaps in WIC benefits. Common reasons include:

• Missed appointments or rescheduled visits
• Expired certification (the approved time period ends without recertification)
• Changes not reported, such as:
  • New address within another jurisdiction
  • Household moving to another state
• Missing or outdated documents, such as:
  • New income that must be re-verified
  • Changes in custody or guardianship that affect who is on the case

If your card suddenly doesn’t have new benefits when you expect them:

1. Check your most recent letter, text, or email from WIC.
2. Call or visit your WIC office and ask:
   • “Is my certification still active?”
   • “Do I need an appointment to continue benefits?”
   • “Are there any documents you’re waiting for from me?”

If You Are Denied or No Longer Eligible for WIC

If your WIC application is denied or your case is closed, many states:

• Provide a written notice explaining why, and
• Explain how to request a fair hearing or appeal

Common reasons for denial or closure:

• Income over the limit for your household size
• The participant has aged out (for example, child turns 5)
• Residency requirements not met
• Not meeting the program’s definition of nutritional risk

If you disagree with a decision:

• Read your denial or closure notice carefully.
• It usually explains:
  • How to request a hearing
  • How long you have to request it (often a set number of days)
• Follow the steps exactly as listed in the official notice or call your WIC office for clarification.

Alternatives and Additional Resources if You Don’t Qualify for WIC

If you cannot get WIC benefits, you may still be able to find help through:

• SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) – monthly food benefits based on income.
• School meal programs – free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch for school-age children.
• Food pantries and community food banks – local nonprofit programs providing groceries at no cost.
• 211 – a free, nationwide information line (dial 2-1-1 in most areas) that can connect you to:
  • Local food resources
  • Housing or utility assistance
  • Other community programs

For each of these, you must use the official application channels such as the state benefits portal, county assistance offices, or official program hotlines.

How to Make Sure You’re Using Official WIC Channels (Avoiding Scams)

Because benefits are valuable, it’s important to verify that you’re dealing with official WIC staff and systems, not scammers.

You can protect yourself by:

• Not sharing your WIC card number or PIN over text, social media, or with unverified websites.
• Being cautious of:
  • Ads or websites that say they can “guarantee approval” for a fee
  • Anyone asking for payment to apply for WIC
• Confirming you are on your state’s official WIC website:
  • Look for a .gov web address or
  • Call your local health department or WIC clinic and ask which website is official.
• Only applying or updating information through:
  • Your local WIC office or clinic
  • The state’s official WIC portal or hotline
  • Trusted locations like county health departments listed in government resources

If something feels suspicious, hang up or close the site and contact your state WIC office using a phone number from a government directory, your benefit letters, or your clinic’s printed materials.

Understanding how your WIC card is issued, loaded, and used can make shopping and managing benefits much easier. For anything related to applying, checking your status, or fixing card problems, your next step is to reach out directly to your local WIC office, state WIC agency, or the official card customer service number printed on your card or WIC materials.