Kentucky WIC Program

Kentucky WIC is administered by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS), Department for Public Health, but delivered locally through 61 local health departments serving all 120 Kentucky counties — from Louisville and Lexington to the state's rural districts.

Who WIC Serves in Kentucky

WIC is open to pregnant women, women up to six months after giving birth (or up to a year if breastfeeding), infants, and children up to their 5th birthday. Fathers, foster parents, grandparents, and other guardians can apply on behalf of an eligible child. To qualify, a household needs to meet income guidelines and show a nutrition-related risk — like being underweight, anemic, or newly pregnant — which a WIC staff member or your doctor can help confirm at your appointment.

What Your Benefits Include

Once approved, you get an eWIC card loaded monthly with funds for specific foods like milk, eggs, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and infant formula. The card works like a debit card at WIC-authorized grocery stores across all 120 counties. WIC also connects families to breastfeeding support — including Designated Breastfeeding Experts and, at many local agencies, peer counselors — one-on-one nutrition education, and referrals to programs like Medicaid and SNAP. Most participants use the free WICShopper app to check their benefit balance, scan barcodes in the store to confirm an item is approved, and find nearby WIC-authorized stores.

How WIC Works in Kentucky

Because Kentucky WIC is delivered through local health departments rather than a single state office, the fastest way to get started is to contact the health department that serves your county directly. If you're not sure which office that is, call the statewide WIC information line at (877) 597-0367 for help finding your nearest clinic. A staff member will schedule your certification appointment and tell you what to bring — proof of identity, proof of Kentucky residency, and proof of income or enrollment in a program like Medicaid, K-TAP, or SNAP.

Staying Enrolled

Recertification timing depends on your category: pregnant participants are certified through delivery, breastfeeding participants for up to a year postpartum, non-breastfeeding postpartum participants for six months, and children every six to twelve months until their fifth birthday. Your local health department will notify you before your certification period ends — don't wait until the last week to schedule, especially at busier metro-area clinics.