WIC Nutrition Program

Website: https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/population-health/wic/

Website: https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic

WIC is a federal grant program operated through local agencies which provides nutritional support to low income, nutritionally at-risk populations.

Nutritional risk is determined by a health professional such as a physician, nutritionist, or nurse, and is based on federal guidelines. This health screening is free to program applicants.

MMCC will complete the application for new refugees that are eligible. 

You may follow the links below to apply for WIC benefits for other immigrants if needed.

WIC beneficiaries will receive an eWIC card to use at local grocery stores. The 

eWIC card is separate from the SNAP/TANF EBT card. When shopping for food, they should apply their WIC benefits to their order by using the eWIC card first.  Then they can use their SNAP/TANF EBT card that contains their SNAP and TANF benefits for the remaining balance. When they use the SNAP/TANF EBT card, choose food which will apply the SNAP benefit.  Once that is applied to their grocery order, if there is a remaining balance, they will need to swipe the SNAP/TANF EBT card again, this time choosing the cash option.

Sometimes, depending on which store they are at, it may be necessary to separate out the WIC items from the rest of the grocery order.

WICShopper app

MMCC will also help refugees download the WICShopper app and register their eWIC card on the app.

The WICShopper app can be used at the store to determine if an item is covered by the WIC benefit. Note that sometimes one flavor of juice is covered but not another.  Or one type of cereal is covered but not others.

They can also check their balances on the WICShopper app.

Population Served

  • Pregnant women (through pregnancy and up to 6 weeks after birth or after pregnancy ends).
  • Breastfeeding women (up to infant’s 1st birthday)
  • Non-breastfeeding postpartum women (up to 6 months after the birth of an infant or after pregnancy ends)
  • Infants (up to 1st birthday). WIC serves 53 percent of all infants born in the United States.
  • Children up to their 5th birthday.

Benefits 

  • Supplemental nutritious foods
  • Nutrition education and counseling at WIC clinics
  • Screening and referrals to other health, welfare, and social services
  • WIC recognizes and promotes breastfeeding as the optimal source of nutrition for infants. For women who do not fully breastfeed, WIC provides iron-fortified infant formula. The brand of infant formula provided by WIC varies by state agency depending on which company has the rebate contract in a particular state. Special infant formulas and medical foods may be provided when prescribed by a physician for a specified medical condition.
  • WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program - provides additional coupons to WIC participants that they can use to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at participating farmer’s markets. Last year participants received $30 in benefits. 

Eligibility Requirements

  • Pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, infants, and children up to age five are eligible. They must meet income guidelines, a state residency requirement, and be individually determined to be at "nutritional risk" by a health professional.
  • To be eligible, based on income, applicants' gross income (i.e., before taxes are withheld) must fall at or below 185 percent of the U.S. Poverty Income Guidelines.

Income Eligibility Guidelines (effective 7/1/2023 – 6/30/2024)

 

Annually

Monthly

Weekly

Family of 1

$26,973

$2,248

$519

Family of 2

$36,482

$3,041

$702

Family of 3

$45,991

$3,833

$885

Family of 4

$55,500

$4,625

$1,068

Family of 5

$65,009

$5,418

$1,251

Family of 6

$74,518

$6,210

$1,434

Family of 7

$84,027

$7,003

$1,616

Family of 8

$93,536

$7,795

$1,799

For each add'l family member, add

+ $9,509

+ $793

+ $183

  • While most states use the maximum guidelines, states may set lower income limit standards. A person or certain family members who participate in other benefits programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Medicaid, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families automatically meet the income eligibility requirement.

WIC Farmer’s Market Program 

Farmers Market Nutrition Program benefits can be spent between July 1st and October 31st with eWIC certified farmers on Maine grown fruits and vegetables. Participants will need to download the benefit app or visit mybnft.com to create an account – farmers cannot accept eWIC cards, so participants will need to set up the benefit app or bring a printed barcode from mybnft.com before they shop! If you use mybnft.com to print your barcode, click here to learn about new changes to the website.

If you use the benefit app, please click here to learn about new changes to the app (pdf).

To learn how to set up your benefit account, click here (PDF) or view our video guide.

Farm Stands and Farmers Markets:

Website: https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/population-health/wic/families/families-find-WICfarmer.shtml

Farmer hours vary due to the seasonal nature of farming; please call or check their Facebook page.

Useful links: