Montana WIC Program

Montana WIC is administered by the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) but delivered through 33 local WIC agencies and more than 80 clinic sites, reaching all 56 counties and all seven of Montana's tribal reservations. Nearly 13,200 women, infants, and children are enrolled statewide.

Who WIC Serves in Montana

WIC is open to people who are pregnant, up to six months postpartum (or up to a year if breastfeeding), infants, and children up to their fifth birthday. Dads, grandparents, foster parents, step-parents, and other guardians raising a child under five can apply on the child's behalf. To qualify, a household needs to meet income guidelines and have a nutrition-related risk — like being pregnant, anemic, or underweight — which WIC staff or your doctor can help confirm at your appointment. Montana WIC does not require proof of pregnancy; a self-declared pregnancy is enough to start the process.

What Your Benefits Include

Once approved, benefits are loaded monthly onto an eWIC card that works like a debit card at authorized grocery stores across Montana, covering foods 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 other services like Medicaid or SNAP. Montana WIC's participant app, Healthy Together, lets families check their benefit balance, scan products in the store, message their local clinic, and request appointments — it's free on iOS and Android, or usable in any browser at app.healthytogether.co.

How WIC Works in Montana

Because Montana WIC is delivered through 33 local agencies covering vast, often rural distances rather than one central office, the fastest way to get started is to find and contact the clinic nearest you. Many local agencies, including several serving Montana's larger counties, offer both in-person and remote phone appointments, which can save families a long drive to their nearest clinic. Montana WIC also maintains dedicated clinic sites on or near all seven tribal reservations.

Staying Enrolled

Recertification timing depends on your category: pregnant participants are certified through the end of pregnancy, breastfeeding participants for up to a year postpartum, non-breastfeeding postpartum participants for six months, and children are recertified periodically until their fifth birthday. Your local WIC clinic will notify you before your certification period ends — schedule your recertification appointment as soon as you're notified, especially if you live in an area served by a smaller local agency with limited clinic days.