(Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children)
2006-2007
Fact Sheet for New
York State
The WIC Program is a cost-effective
prevention program that
provides nutritious foods, nutrition education and access to health
care for low-income pregnant women, new mothers, and infants and
children at nutritional risk. Unfortunately, only half of those
eligible for benefits participate in the WIC program.
Eligibility Criteria
q
WIC recipients
must be New York State residents. U.S.
citizenship is NOT required.
q Applicants must fit into one of the following categories:
o Infant up to one year old
o Child under age 5
o Pregnant woman
o Breastfeeding woman up to one year postpartum
o Non-breastfeeding woman up to 6 months postpartum
q Applicants must be “at nutritional risk.” Applicants must be certified as “at nutritional risk”
by a health professional such as a doctor, nurse or nutritionist.
Determination of nutritional risk can also be determined at local
WIC clinics.
q Applicants must meet income eligibility guidelines.
Gross household income
(before taxes are withheld) must fall below the guidelines shown
below. Families receiving Temporary Assistance to Needy Families
(TANF), food stamp benefits, Medicaid, free or reduced-price school
meals, and/or participate in low-income Head Start programs automatically
meet WIC income criteria.
INCOME ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES:
2006-2007
(Supplemental Food Program
for Women, Infants and Children)
| Household Size |
Monthly |
Yearly |
| 1 |
$
1,511 |
$
18,130 |
| 2 |
2,035 |
24,420 |
| 3 |
2,560 |
30,710 |
| 4 |
3,084 |
37,000 |
| 5 |
3,608 |
43,290 |
| 6 |
4,132 |
49,580 |
| 7 |
4,656 |
55,870 |
| 8 |
5,180 |
62,160 |
| For each additional family
member, ADD |
+
$525 |
+
$6,290 |
Program Benefits
q
Monthly food vouchers:
WIC participants receive a set of monthly food vouchers,
and often receive three months’ worth of vouchers at a time. These
vouchers list the quantity and type of food items that may be
purchased at the market, usually including such nutritious foods
as cereal, milk, infant formula, cheese and juice. Most supermarkets
and many bodegas accept WIC vouchers.
q
Nutrition Education
and Counseling: The
WIC program is designed to empower participants to improve their
nutritional/health status by providing nutrition education at
local WIC clinics. WIC participants may also work with nutrition
counselors to identify any changes that may need to be made in
one’s diet.
q
Health Screenings
and Referrals: Part
of WIC’s mission is to work toward improving child health, especially
by making sure children receive the immunizations they need. At
local WIC clinics, participants will receive a medical check-up
and referrals to other health care facilities.
How
to Apply for WIC
To apply for WIC benefits, pregnant women
or mothers should visit their local WIC agency for an interview
and medical assessment. Once approved for benefits, clients pick
up their WIC vouchers at the local WIC office.
To find a local WIC office near you, please
call the New York State Department of Health:
1-800-522-5006
Prepared
by the Nutrition Consortium of New York State, Inc. Funding in
whole or in part provided by: the NYS DOH/NYS OTDA/USDA FNS; the
NYS DOS/CFNP U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; the
Campaign to End Hunger.
