Maryland WIC Program

Maryland WIC is administered by the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) but delivered locally through county and Baltimore City health departments — plus a few regional and nonprofit partners — across all 24 Maryland jurisdictions. Maryland also gives participants two digital tools most states don't offer together: an online WIC Client Portal and a state-branded mobile app, MD WIC, that share the same login.

Who WIC Serves in Maryland

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, grandparents, foster parents, and other caregivers can apply on behalf of an eligible child. 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 your doctor can help 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 statewide, covering items like milk, eggs, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and infant formula. WIC also connects families to breastfeeding support, one-on-one nutrition education, and referrals to programs like Medical Assistance and SNAP. Most participants download the free MD WIC app to check their benefit balance, scan barcodes in the aisle to confirm an item is approved, view upcoming appointments, and find nearby WIC-authorized stores and clinics.

How WIC Works in Maryland

Because Maryland WIC is delivered through local health departments rather than a single state office, the fastest way to get started is to contact the WIC office for your county — or create an account at the WIC Client Portal to complete a pre-screening tool and schedule your certification appointment online, without calling first. A few rural jurisdictions share one regional agency; for example, Midshore WIC serves Caroline, Dorchester, and Talbot counties, and Upper Shore WIC serves Kent and Queen Anne's counties. Every applicant still completes a certification appointment — in person, or virtually where a local office offers it.

Staying Enrolled

Recertification timing depends on your category: pregnant participants are certified through delivery and six months postpartum (twelve months if breastfeeding), infants are recertified around six months and again near their first birthday, and children every six to twelve months until age five. Benefits don't roll over month to month, so track your certification end date through the MD WIC app or Client Portal and contact your local office before it ends.