Delaware WIC Program

Delaware WIC is administered by the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), Division of Public Health, and delivered through ten clinics spread across the state's three counties — New Castle, Kent, and Sussex. Every clinic shares one phone line, so getting started anywhere in the state means one call.

Who WIC Serves in Delaware

WIC is open to people who are pregnant, up to six months postpartum (or up to a year if breastfeeding), infants, and children under age five. Fathers, grandparents, foster parents, and other caregivers can apply on behalf of an eligible child. There is no citizenship requirement, and WIC participation is not considered in public charge determinations. To qualify, a household needs to meet income guidelines and show a nutrition-related risk — such as being pregnant, anemic, or underweight — which WIC staff or your doctor can help confirm at your appointment.

What Your Benefits Include

Once approved, benefits are loaded monthly onto an eWIC card that works like a debit card at authorized grocery stores statewide, covering foods like milk, eggs, cheese, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and infant formula. WIC also connects families to breastfeeding support through dedicated Breastfeeding Peer Counselors, one-on-one nutrition education, and referrals to Medicaid and other services. Participants can manage appointments and check their benefit balance through the WIC Client Portal, and many use the free Delaware WIC Shopping App to scan barcodes in the store and confirm an item is approved before checkout.

How WIC Works in Delaware

Because Delaware WIC is delivered through local county clinics rather than a single office, the fastest way to get started is to call the clinic nearest you at (302) 283-7540 — the same number reaches every clinic in New Castle, Kent, and Sussex counties. Delaware WIC also offers remote service by phone on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (with a midday break), so an initial appointment doesn't always require an in-person visit; your clinic will confirm what's available when you call.

Staying Enrolled

Recertification timing follows federal guidelines: pregnant participants are certified through delivery, breastfeeding participants for up to a year postpartum, non-breastfeeding postpartum participants for six months, and children annually. Your local clinic will notify you before your certification period ends — don't wait until the last week to schedule, especially heading into summer when clinics also enroll families in the Farmers' Market Nutrition Program.