Applying For Wyoming WIC

Wyoming WIC (Women, Infants and Children) is handled by the Wyoming 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 Wyoming 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 Wyoming 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 WY 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.

Wyoming WIC Eligibility

To Be Eligible for WIC in Wyoming, you or your child must:

Meet Wyoming WIC Income Guidelines. WIC income eligibility guidelines are based on household size and income. You may already meet the income guidelines if you are on:

Medicaid
SNAP, or
Work First Family Assistance

Have a health risk factor based on:

Height & weight measurements
Blood test for low iron
Health history
Diet history

Wyoming WIC Application

To start the application process for Wyoming WIC benefits, you need to contact your local WIC clinic and schedule an appointment. With some exceptions, each person applying for the Wyoming WIC program must be physically present at the clinic at the time of application.

Wyoming WIC Appointment

You need to bring the following items to your first appointment:

Proof of Identity
You need to bring proof of ID for each family member applying for WY WIC such as:

Current driver's license
Original or certified copy of birth certificate
Military or tribal ID
Original Social Security card
Wyoming ID card
Passport/US government ID
Foster child legal papers
Work/School ID
Wyoming WIC card
Mexican Consulate Card
Hospital documentation
Mexican Electoral Card
Immunization record

Proof of Income
Proof of current income for everyone living in the household, for example:

Check stubs
SNAP eligibility notice
Child support/alimony
Student award letter
WY Medicaid verification
TANF award letter
Disability Assistance (SSI)
Unemployment letter/notice
Foster placement/award letter
Verification of WIC certification/VOC
Military Leave and Earnings Statement (LES)
Written statement from employer
Savings/Checking/CD account(s)
W-2 form or tax returns
Self-employment documentation

Proof of Address
You need to bring proof of your physical address. One of the following:

Bank statement with address
Rental agreement
Car registration/insurance
Rent or mortgage receipts
Utility or other bill
SNAP eligibility notice
Government mail with current postmark
Written statement from employer or landlord
W-2 or tax return

Your children up to age five and blood work results (Hematocrit or Hemoglobin) if available.

Wyoming eWIC System

Wyoming uses the WYO W.E.S.T. This replaces paper checks and vouchers with a Wyoming WIC EBT (Electronic benefit transfer) Card. When purchasing WIC approved foods at your local grocery store, you would hand the cashier your WYO W.E.S.T. Card and they will swipe it like a debit or credit card. From there the POS system will deduct the amount from your current WIC balance. Also, instead of having to visit your local WIC clinic each month, your Wyoming WIC EBT Card is automatically refilled electronically.

What is a PIN?
PIN means Personal Identification Number. You will need to use your PIN to access benefits on your card. The PIN for your card is four digits. For your protection, the card will lock if the PIN is entered wrong seven times in a row at the store. Should you lock your card, your local WIC clinic can unlock the card.

Do not share your PIN with others and do not write your PIN on your card or the folder that is provided to you. Do not ask cashiers to enter your PIN for you. If you forget your PIN, you will need to take the card to your local WIC office to get a new PIN assigned.

You will need to bring your card to all of your WIC appointments so that food benefits can be added or adjusted on the card. The food benefits on your card are intended for the Wyoming WIC participants only. Your WY WIC benefits must be used by the last day of the month. Your left over benefits do not carry over to the next month. Be sure to complete any transaction before midnight of the last day of the month to avoid losing benefits.

What if my WIC card is lost or stolen?
Call the last store where you used your card to determine if you left it there. Look around your house and in your car to see if it was misplaced. Call your local WIC office to see if it was returned. Call your local WIC office or the WIC Help desk number to have your card locked, so that if someone finds your card, it cannot be used.

If your card is replaced, you will not have access to your benefits for at least 48 hours. You must return to your local WIC office to get your card replaced. WIC benefits may be delayed if your card is replaced in the last two days of the month.

If you need help with your Wisconsin eWIC card, you can contact the help desk at 888-WYO-West Monday - Friday from 8am to 5pm.

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 Wyoming WIC program is to improve the nutritional status of infants, WY 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 Wyoming 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

Wyoming 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 WY 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 Wyoming 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 Wyoming 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 WY 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 Wyoming 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 WY WIC program.

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