Applying For Pennsylvania WIC

Pennsylvania WIC (Women, Infants and Children) is handled by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. They are responsible for determing the eligibility requirements, application process and are in charge of providing the benefits and services to WIC participants. The Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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 PA 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.

Pennsylvania WIC Eligibility

WIC serves the following Pennsylvania residents:

Pregnant women
Breastfeeding women, for up to one year postpartum
Women up to six months postpartum, who are not breastfeeding
Infants and children under 5 years old, including foster children

These residents must also meet the Pennsylvania WIC Income Guidelines, which is 185% of the poverty level set by the federal government and is based on household size. They must also have a medical or nutritional risk, which is determined at the Pennsylvania WIC certification appointment. There are many qualifying risks. Some examples include:

Anemia
Being underweight
Being overweight
Premature baby, and
Pregnancy complications

Pennsylvania WIC Application

To apply for PA WIC benefits, call the toll-free WIC Hotline at 800-WIC-WINS to be connected to WIC office staff that will answer your questions and schedule your appointment. Or if you prefer, you can start the PA WIC application process online by clicking here. Once your appointment is scheduled, please take time to review the list of required items listed below needed for your initial visit to the WIC office.

Pennsylvania WIC Appointment

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

Proof of identity
For a woman, driver's license, photo ID card, passport or student ID. For an infant, birth certificate, crib card or discharge paperwork. For a child, birth certificate, crib card or passport

Proof of Income
Proof of all sources of income for everyone living in the household (ex. pay stubs for the last 30 days, unemployment letter, child support, income tax return for self-employed persons only).

ACCESS card (if applicable)

Proof of Address
Proof of Pennsylvania residency (document with name and current address such as driver's license, utility bill or recent mail).

Records
Immunization records for all children under 2 years old (ex. baby book, health passport), if available. Your children under age 5 and proof of pregnancy stating due date (if applicable).

If possible, complete a dietary questionnaire for each applicant:

Woman (pregnant, up to 6 months postpartum or up to 12 months postpartum if breastfeeding)
Infant (under age 1)
Child (age 1 to under age 5)

If you are currently on the PA WIC program or a proxy for a WIC participant, always bring your WIC packet and WIC ID card to every appointment. For re-certifications, they need the following:

Proof of Identity
For a woman, driver's license, photo ID card, passport or student ID. For an infant, birth certificate, crib card or discharge paperwork. For a child, birth certificate, crib card or passport.

ACCESS card (if applicable)

Proof of Address
Proof of Pennsylvania residency (document with name and current address such as driver's license, utility bill or recent mail).

Records
Immunization record for all children under 2 years old (ex. baby book, health passport), if available. Your children under age 5.

For health evaluations and/or weigh and measure appointments, please bring:

Your children
Immunization record for all children under 2 years old

What if I am a grandparent, father or foster parent?
If you are a grandparent, father or foster parent who has custody of a child under age 5, you may apply for the child to receive Pennsylvania WIC. Custody paperwork will be required for change of custody or other custody issues. Situations will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

What if I'm a teen? Do I qualify if I live with my mom or dad?
In most cases, if you are a teen, and your parents claim you as a dependent on their taxes, you must count all of the income of your household to determine if you are eligible for PA WIC benefits. Please call your local WIC office to find out if you are income eligible. View the PA WIC Income Guidelines.

What is the WIC infant formula rebate system?
WIC encourages mothers to breastfeed their infants if possible. However, WIC will provide infant formula to mothers who are unable to breastfeed. USDA regulations mandate that all states establish a contract with one formula manufacturer as a cost savings measure. These contracts provide a rebate for every can of standard formula purchased by a WIC participant. In turn, the rebates received are immediately turned back to the program in order to serve more participants.

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 Pennsylvania WIC program is to improve the nutritional status of infants, PA 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 Pennsylvania 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

Pennsylvania 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 PA 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania 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 PA 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 Pennsylvania 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 PA WIC program.

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