New Jersey WIC Program

New Jersey WIC is administered by the New Jersey Department of Health but delivered locally through a network of WIC agencies — county and city health departments, hospitals, and community organizations — with clinic sites in all 21 counties. The program provides free nutritious foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to healthcare and community services for pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants, and children up to age 5.

Who WIC Serves in New Jersey

WIC is open to people who are pregnant, up to six months postpartum (or up to a year if breastfeeding), infants, and children under age five. Fathers, grandparents, foster parents, and other primary caregivers can apply on behalf of an eligible child. There is no citizenship requirement, and New Jersey WIC explicitly serves all who qualify regardless of immigration status — participation is not considered in public charge determinations. To qualify, a household needs to meet income guidelines and have a nutrition-related risk, which WIC staff or your doctor can help confirm at your appointment.

What Your Benefits Include

Once approved, food benefits are loaded monthly onto an eWIC card that works like a debit card at authorized grocery stores statewide, covering items like milk, eggs, cheese, 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 NJ FamilyCare and SNAP. Many participants use the free WIC Shopper app, which includes a UPC barcode scanner to confirm an item is approved before checkout. New Jersey WIC families can also take advantage of the Families First Discovery Pass, a statewide benefit offering free or discounted admission to museums, arts organizations, and cultural venues using your eWIC card.

How WIC Works in New Jersey

Because New Jersey WIC is delivered through local agencies rather than a single state office, the fastest way to get started is the NJ WIC Participant Portal at wic.nj.gov/participantportal. The online pre-screening takes about 15 minutes and submits your information directly to the local agency serving your area, and a staff member will follow up to schedule your certification appointment. You can also call your local WIC agency directly to get started.

Staying Enrolled

Recertification timing follows federal guidelines: pregnant participants are certified through delivery, breastfeeding participants for up to a year postpartum, non-breastfeeding postpartum participants for six months, and children annually. Your local WIC agency will notify you before your certification period ends — don't wait until the last week to schedule, especially at busy agencies in North Jersey.