District of Columbia WIC Program

DC WIC is administered by DC Health, the District of Columbia's health department, but delivered through four local healthcare partners — Children's National Hospital, Community of Hope, Mary's Center, and Unity Health Care — operating 15 WIC clinic sites across all four quadrants of the city. The program provides free nutritious foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to healthcare and community services for pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding people, infants, and children up to age 5.

Who WIC Serves in the District

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 primary caregivers can apply on behalf of an eligible child. DC WIC does not ask about or keep information on immigration or visa status, and WIC participation is not considered in federal 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 a doctor can 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 and pharmacies throughout the District, covering items like milk, eggs, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and infant formula. Enrolled participants also get free access to the Pacify app, which connects you to board-certified lactation consultants by video chat 24/7 with no appointment needed, plus seasonal Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) benefits for fresh, locally grown produce. The free EzWIC app lets you scan barcodes in the store to confirm an item is approved and check your benefit balance.

How WIC Works in DC

Because DC WIC is delivered through local agency partners rather than a single clinic, the fastest way to get started is to request an appointment online through the LINKU DMV platform at dcwic.org, or call the WIC site nearest you directly. Before your visit, you can also use the DC WIC Participant Portal at mydcwic.com (available in English and Spanish) to confirm your information and upload required documents. An in-person visit is required to complete certification.

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, infants around six months and again near their first birthday, and children every 6–12 months until age 5. Your WIC clinic will notify you before your certification period ends — you can also check your next appointment through the Participant Portal.