Welcome the American Heart Association’s Westchester County Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Community Forum. We would like to give a special thank you to our panelists, Sharon D’Errico from Sun River Health and Elena Tateo from Westchester County Department of Health. We created this companion page to help you find more information about WIC.
What is WIC?
WIC provides federal grants to states for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk.
Who does WIC serve?
- Pregnant women
- Breastfeeding women
- Non-breastfeeding postpartum women
- Infants
- Toddlers and children up to age 5
- Fathers and caretakers can apply for their children
- Residents of New York State
- Meet rules on income limits or get benefits from Medicaid, SNAP or TANF
- Have a dietary need
How do I apply from WIC?
Call your local agency to make an appointment. Find the local agency most convenient to you on our 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. Each person applying for WIC benefits must go to the local agency to apply and be present at the time of application.
What documents should I bring to my WIC appointment?
You will need to bring proof that you are a one of the people served by WIC, ad well ad identity and residency documents. Here is a list of what to bring to you WIC appointment.
What does WIC provide?
Nutrition Advice
Learn how to make healthier food choices and become more active
Nutritionists help you plan healthy meals
Talk with other parents for support
Breastfeeding Support
Trained breastfeeding experts
Other moms who are trained to give breastfeeding support
Breast pumps for moms who need them
Special foods for moms who breastfeed
Visit: breastfeedingpartners.org
Nutritious Foods
Milk, cheese, yogurt, fresh vegetables and fruits, 100% juice, whole-grain pasta, rice, bread, cereal, formula eggs, baby food and more
Referrals to other services
Breastfeeding experts
Well baby and child care
Medicaid
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Family planning
Head Start
Domestic violence
Stop smoking
Vaccinations
Prenatal care
Substance abuse
Cancer prevention
Do working families qualify?
In 2019, a working family of four with a yearly income of $47,638 could qualify for WIC
Income limits may increase each year.
Visit: www.health.ny.gov/prevention/nutrition/wic/income_guidelines.htm to see if your family can qualify.
How can I find a WIC clinic near me?
- Visit: health.ny.gov/prevention/nutrition wic/how_to_apply.htm
- Call: 1-800-522-5006 – The Growing Up Healthy Hotline
Do SNAP and WIC overlap? Can a single person or a family receive both?
SNAP and WIC are separate programs, though there is some overlap between the two. WIC beneficiaries are entitled to receive supplemental nutritious foods, nutrition education, counseling at WIC clinics, screening, and referrals to other health, welfare and social services.
You may want to apply for SNAP first if you are pregnant, postpartum, breastfeeding an infant up to one year old or have children under the age of 5. If you approved for SNAP you are generally automatically approved for WIC. Households will need to contact the local WIC and SNAP agency to apply. WIC and SNAP benefits are both deposited electronically into the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT Card). If you are using WIC and SNAP you will need to select either the WIC or SNAP from the list of options. If you are using both WIC and SNAP, you can either separate your items or select WIC to pay for the WIC eligible items and then SWIPE the card again for SNAP to cover the rest of the eligible foods.
WIC approved food lists are established separately by each state agency and are listed in the USDA Food and Nutrition Service website by state.
WIC Strong website https://www.wicstrong.com/
SignUp WIC https://www.signupwic.com/
NYS WIC information can be found on the website: https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/nutrition/wic/