What is WIC?

• Nutrition education
• One-on-one counseling about nutrition
• Vouchers to buy healthy foods
• Support and help with breastfeeding
• Referrals to health care and other programs

Who is WIC for?

• Women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or who have had a baby in the past 6 months
• Infants from birth to 1 year of age
• Children up to 5 years of age

How can I get WIC assistance?

What will I learn about nutrition?

• How and why to breastfeed
• How to take care of yourself during your pregnancy and after you have your baby
• Ways to encourage physical activity for you and your family

• How to breastfeed
• When and how to introduce solid foods
• How to keep your baby healthy with good nutrition

• How to keep your child healthy with nutritional foods
• Fun ways for children to stay active

What happens at my WIC appointments?

What do I need to do to stay on WIC?

• WIC ID card or identification
• Proof of income
• Proof of address
• The person(s) being recertified

How long can I stay on WIC?

What foods do I get on WIC?

• Milk and cheese give you protein and calcium for growth of bones.
• Eggs, dried beans and peanut butter give you protein to build and repair body cells.
• 100% fruit juice gives you vitamin C to fight disease and to heal wounds.
• Carrots and canned tuna are for breastfeeding women who are not giving their babies formula. Carrots give you vitamin A to help with good vision, fight infections and provide proper growth and strong bones. Tuna gives you protein to build and repair cells.
• Infants who are not breastfed receive Iron-fortified infant formula. It gives protein to build and repair body cells and iron to build healthy blood.
• Cereal gives you iron for healthy blood.

What can I do if the grocer doesn't have all of the foods on my voucher?

• Go to another WIC-approved store
• Go back to the store on another day
• If the grocer is out of WIC foods often, call your local clinic

What should I do to help the WIC program work for me?

• Keep your appointments with WIC. If you cannot keep an appointment, please call your local WIC office as soon as possible to reschedule.
• Always take your WIC ID to your WIC appointments.
• Take the Texas WIC approved Foods Brochure with you to the grocery store to help you choose the right foods.
• WIC foods cannot be returned to the store for money or sold to someone else.
• Tell the WIC staff about any changes in your name, address or phone number.
• If you are going to move from the area, be sure to tell your WIC staff.
• If you have a comment about WIC services call 1-800-942-3678.

How to become a WIC client

• Call your local clinic. Make an appointment to see if you and/or your household can become WIC clients.
• Bring proof of income. Medicaid, TANF, and Food Stamp recipients qualify for income eligibility.
  
  For each person in your house who has income, bring one of these items:
  
  
  • Pay stub that shows "gross income"
  • Current tax records
  • Letter signed and dated from employer stating gross income
  • Proof of Social Security benefits
  • Alimony or child-support payments
  • Other proof (check with clinic)
    
    
• Bring one of the items below for proof of where you and your household members live:
  
  
  • Rent receipt
  • Utility bill
  • Other proof (check with clinic)
    
    
• Bring one of the items below for proof of identification for each person applying for WIC benefits
  
  
  • Driver's license
  • Social Security Card
  • Birth certificate
  • School ID or work ID
  • Other proof (check with clinic)
    
    
• Each woman, infant and child who wants to apply for WIC benefits must come to the appointment.