Applying For Nevada WIC

Nevada WIC (Women, Infants and Children) is handled by the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services. They are responsible for determing the eligibility requirements, application process and are in charge of providing the benefits and services to WIC participants. The Nevada WIC program aims to protect the health of low income pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, infants and children up to the age of 5 who are at a nutritional risk. This is done through WIC approved nutritious foods you can purchase using paper vouchers/checks, or in some states your WIC EBT card.

Nutrition Risk Requirements

Anyone who applies for Nevada WIC benefits must be seen by a health professional such as a physician, nurse, or nutritionist. They must determine whether the applicant is at a nutrition risk. In most cases, this can be done at a local WIC clinic at no cost to the applicant. However, if need be, this information can be obtained from another health professional such as the applicants doctor. Being a nutrition risk means that an individual has a medical-based or dietary-based condition.

For medical-based condition it could be anemia, underweight or a history of poor pregnacy outcome. For a dietary-based condition, this could include having a poor diet. At a minimum, the applicant's height and weight must be taken and bloodwork drawn up to check for anemia. An applicant must have at least one of the medical or dietary conditions listed on the state's list of WIC nutrition risk criteria.

WIC Prescreening

Before applying for the NV WIC program, you can see if you are potentially eligible through the online Prescreening Tool. Please note, this tool is not considered an application. You still need to follow the application process for this state. It takes about 15 minutes to complete.

The Nevada WIC program provides:

Nutrition Education
The NV WIC program will help your family create healthy habits and reach your family's nutrition goals with helpful tips and a range of health and nutrition services that help participants put healthy behaviors into action. Services are customized to each family's needs and interests.

Nutritious Food
The WIC food package is based on the latest nutrition guidelines to promote optimal health and well-being for you and your family. The WIC foods are low in fat and high in fiber, provide nutritional variety and help to promote a healthy weight. Every food package is individually tailored to meet the participant's specific nutritional needs.

Breastfeeding Support
WIC offers breast feeding support, education, and counseling. Breastfeeding is a wonderful way to support the growth of your child while nurturing a bond that will last a lifetime. Mother's milk has everything a baby needs to grow and stay healthy.

Community Referrals
The NV WIC program wants you to have the community and healthcare assistance you need. They provide referrals for immunizations, health care and other programs.

Nutrition Counseling
Parents often worry about their child's eating habits. The Nevada qualified nutritionists and staff can give you professional nutrition and wellness advice.

Health Screening
Tracking your child's growth will help you understand his or her health and development.

It is this combination of education, supplemental foods, and referrals to health care providers which allows WIC to make a difference. The Nevada WIC program staff work with health and social service professionals to ensure the best health care possible.

Nevada WIC Eligibility

In order to participate in the Nevada WIC Program, the following requirements need to be met.

Categorical Requirement
A person must be one of the following:

Pregnant woman
Breastfeeding woman (up to one year after the delivery of baby)
Postpartum woman who is not breastfeeding (up to 6 months after the delivery)
Infant
Child up to 5 years of age

Please note, fathers of children under the age of 5 are encouraged to enroll their children in the WIC program. Just like any other parent or guardian, fathers can bring their children to appointments, attend nutrition classes, and receive and redeem benefits for their children. Active participation by fathers is a great help in keeping WIC children healthy.

Residency Requirement
Participants in the Nevada WIC program must live in Nevada and be able to provide proof of residency.

Nutrition Risk Requirement
Have a risk identified through a medical/nutritional screening.

Income Requirement
The income guidelines for WIC are considerably higher than for other public assistance programs, so many families with employed members can qualify for WIC. In order to qualify, your total combined household income, before taxes are taken out, cannot exceed the following income guidelines. WIC counts an unborn baby as a household member so add one to household if pregnant.

Applicants who participate in the Medicaid, SNAP, or TANF automatically meet the income eligibility by bringing proof of their participation in one of these programs, other income documents are not needed. View the Nevada WIC Income Guidelines.

Nevada WIC Application

To start the application process for Nevada WIC benefits, you need to contact your local WIC clinic and schedule an appointment.

Nevada WIC Appointment

You need to bring the following information with you to your appointment:

Proof of Identification
Must be current/valid original document (no photocopies).

For infants/children:

Immunization Record
Hospital Birth Record
Birth Certificate
Medicaid Card

For women or adult (parent, guardian, or proxy):

Photo ID (such as drivers license, passport)
Work or School ID
Birth Certificate
Medicaid Card

Proof of Residency
One proof of residency may be used to certify the entire family. Parent/guardian's proof of residence applies to the infant/child (name does not have to appear on the document used).

The following are accepted documentation forms of residency:

Current Utility bills for the residence reported
Rent or mortgage receipts for lodging/housing
Statement from landlord
State of Nevada driver's license or state I.D. with current physical address
A PO Box address is not acceptable for proof of residence

Proof of Income
Bring documentation for all income received by the household members. All income from the prior 30 days will normally be considered, including:

Wages, salary, commissions, or fees
Net income from farm and non-farm self-employment
Social Security benefits
Dividends or interest on savings or bonds
Income from estates or trusts, on investments or net rental income
Public assistance or welfare payments
Unemployment payments
Government, civilian employee or military retirement or pensions or veterans payments
Private pensions or annuities or insurance benefits
Alimony or child support payments
Regular contributions from persons not living in the household
Net royalties
Other income includes, but is not limited to, cash amounts received or withdrawn from any source including savings, investments, trust accounts and other resources with are readily available to the family

Nevada eWIC System

Nevada uses the eWIC system. Instead of using paper checks or vouchers, you are given a Nevada EBT WIC (Electronic benefit transfer) Card. When you purchase WIC approved foods at your local grocery store, you would hand the cashier your NV WIC EBT card and the cashier will swipe your card like a credit or debit card. Their POS system will then deduct the amount from your WIC balance. Also, instead of having to go to your local WIC clinic each month to get more paper checks or vouchers, your Nevada WIC EBT card will be automatically refilled electronically. For customer support you can call toll free 844-892-2932 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

How will I know my WIC food benefit balance?
There are four ways to get your balance:

Always keep your last receipt as this will show your remaining balance
Call the toll-free number 877-234-7056 and follow the directions
Go to the cashier line at your grocery store and do a balance inquiry
Download and use the WICShopper app

What happens if I need to change my WIC food benefits?
You will need to contact your WIC Clinic staff to discuss any possible changes to your food benefits.

What is a PIN (Personal Identification Number)?
Your PIN is a four-digit secret code that allows you to use your Nevada WIC EBT Card at the grocery store. Your card will not work until you select your PIN. You will select your PIN when you get your first Nevada WIC EBT Card. Choose four numbers that are easy for you to remember, but hard for someone else to figure out.

Never tell your PIN to anyone. Do not write your PIN on your Nevada WIC EBT Card. If someone knows your PIN, they can use your card to get your benefits and those benefits will not be replaced.

What if I forget my PIN, want a new PIN or someone finds out my PIN?
Call Customer Service at 877-234-7056 to choose a new PIN.

What if I enter the wrong PIN?
If you can't remember your PIN, call Customer Service at 877-234-7056 to choose a new PIN. If you enter the wrong PIN, you will have three more chances to enter the correct number. After the fourth try, you won't be able to use your card until 12:01 am the next day.

What if my card is lost or stolen?
If your card is lost or stolen, report it immediately by calling Customer Service. Always call the minute your find out your card is missing. You will have to wait 5-7 business days to receive your replacement card in the mail.

WIC Breastfeeding

Research has shown that breast milk is the best food for the baby's first year of life. Breastfeeding provides many health, nutritional and economical benefits to mother and baby. Since a major goal of the Nevada WIC program is to improve the nutritional status of infants, NV WIC encourages participating mothers to choose breastfeeding in the following ways:

Mothers are provided with breastfeeding information and support
Breastfeeding mothers are eligible to participate in Nevada WIC longer than non-breastfeeding mothers
Mothers who exclusively breastfeed receive a larger amount and variety of foods
Mothers can receive a pump and other breastfeeding items if needed to help support the initiation and continuation of breastfeeding

Length of WIC Participation

Nevada WIC is considered a short-term program. A participate "graduates" at the end of one or more of their certification periods. A certification period is the length of time a NV WIC participate is eligible to receive benefits. Depending on the persons condition, either pregnant, postpartum, breastfeeding, an infant or child, an eligible person usually receives benefits from 6 months to a year, at which time they are required to re-apply.

The WIC Waiting List

In some situations, WIC agencies may not have enough financial backing to serve everyone who qualifies for the Nevada WIC program or those who call to apply. At this point, the WIC agencies must keep a list that is referred to as the "waiting list". It contains all of the individuals who want to apply for the Nevada WIC program and are likely to be served. From there, the WIC agencies use a special system called a "Priority System". Based on conditions like most serious health conditions (anemia, underweight, pregnancy problems), this system will determine who will be served next to receive NV WIC benefits. There are 7 priorities used in this priority system, the details for each priority and how they are determined are listed below.

Priority 1
The following applicants with nutrition-related medical conditions such as anemia, underweight, overweight or pre-term birth:

Pregnant Women
Breastfeeding Women
Infants

Priority 2
Infants up to 6 months of age whose mothers participated in WIC or could have participated and had nutrition-related medical conditions.

Priority 3
Children with nutrition-related medical conditions.

Priority 4
The following applicants with dietary problems, for example a poor diet:

Infants
Pregnant Women
Breastfeeding Women

Priority 5
Children with dietary problems, for example a poor diet.

Priority 6
Postpartum (non-breastfeeding) women with nutrition related-medical conditions or dietary problems.

Priority 7
Current WIC participants who without providing the WIC supplemental foods could continue to have medical and/or dietary problems.

Please note, state agencies can decide to place homeless and migrant participants in Priorities 5 through 7. At the state agencies option, postpartum women may be placed in Priorities 3 through 5. Any priority can be subdivided into subcategories of risk, using factors such as income or age.

WIC Participants who are Moving

If you are receiving Nevada WIC benefits and are moving from one area or state to another, then you will be placed at the top of a waiting list when you move and are also served first when the WIC agency can serve more individuals. While moving, you can still continue to receive your benefits until your certification period expires as long as there is proof that you are receiving WIC benefits in another area or state. Before you move, you need to contact your local WIC clinic and let them know.

In most cases the staff will give you a special card, Verification of Certification Card (VOC), which will prove that you are receiving WIC benefits. After you do move, you will then need to call the WIC clinic in your new area to schedule an appointment. When attending your appointment, make sure to take the VOC card that was given to you to show proof that you were participating in the NV WIC program.

If you still have questions or issues about the program, then you can contact your local Nevada WIC program that manages these benefits and services.