How to Apply for WIC in Minnesota

Minnesota makes it easy to start the WIC process from home. Apply online anytime at health.state.mn.us/wicapply — a short application available in English, Spanish, and Somali — or call your local WIC agency directly. After you apply, WIC staff will contact you to finish the process and schedule your certification appointment.

Step 1: Apply Online or Contact Your Local Agency

• Apply online: Visit health.state.mn.us/wicapply to submit your application.
• Call your local agency: Use the Minnesota WIC Agency Directory at health.state.mn.us to find and contact the agency serving your county, or call the state WIC office at 1-800-657-3942 (toll-free) or 651-201-4444. If you need help finding a clinic and speak a language other than English, call 1-800-942-4030.

Step 2: Gather Your Documents

• Proof of identity for yourself and each child applying — a driver's license, passport, birth certificate, tribal ID, or hospital records for infants
• Proof of Minnesota residency — a utility bill, lease, or other document showing your current Minnesota address
• Proof of income — recent pay stubs, or documentation of current enrollment in Medical Assistance, MinnesotaCare, MFIP, SNAP, Head Start, the Energy Assistance Program, or Free/Reduced-Price School Lunch, which replaces income proof entirely
• For pregnant applicants: confirmation from a healthcare provider, if available
• For children: you or another caregiver must bring the child to the first certification appointment

What Happens at Your Appointment

WIC staff verify your documents, take height and weight measurements, and complete a brief health and nutrition assessment. If you're approved, your food package is set and benefits are loaded onto your eWIC card, often the same day. Many local agencies offer phone or video appointments as an alternative to in-person visits — ask your agency what's available.

If Your Income Is Just Over the Limit

Minnesota's Presumptive Income Eligibility pathway can help households that don't meet the standard income guidelines. If your household includes a pregnant woman, a recent mother, or a child under 5, and you're willing to apply for a Minnesota Health Care Program, you may qualify for up to three months of WIC benefits while that application is pending — it's worth asking about even if you think you're over the limit.

Recertification

Pregnant participants are certified through delivery, breastfeeding participants for up to a year postpartum, non-breastfeeding postpartum participants for six months, and infants and children periodically up to their fifth birthday. Your local agency will contact you before your certification period ends — the Minnesota WIC App also sends appointment reminders.

Moving To or From Minnesota

If you're moving to Minnesota from another state, contact a local Minnesota WIC agency and bring the Verification of Certification (VOC) form from your previous state. If you're leaving Minnesota, ask your WIC agency for a VOC form before you go so your new state can continue your benefits without starting over.