New York WIC Program

New York WIC is administered by the New York State Department of Health but delivered locally through a network of providers — county health departments, hospitals, community health centers, and nonprofit organizations — with sites in every county. More than half of all New York WIC participants are enrolled in New York City alone, making the five boroughs the single largest concentration of WIC participants of any American city.

Who WIC Serves in New York

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 or immigration status requirement to apply. To qualify, a household needs to meet income guidelines and have 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 food vendors statewide, covering items like milk, eggs, cheese, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and infant formula. WIC also connects families to breastfeeding support and peer counselors, one-on-one nutrition education, and referrals to other programs like Medicaid, SNAP, or the Essential Plan. Many participants use the free WIC2Go app, New York's official WIC mobile app, to find nearby WIC clinics and authorized stores and to scan barcodes and check whether an item is approved.

How WIC Works in New York

Because New York WIC is delivered locally rather than through one statewide office, the fastest way to get started is to chat with Wanda, the WIC Assistant, on the state WIC website, or to call the local WIC office nearest you directly. A staff member will schedule an intake appointment — often by phone — and let you know what to bring. In New York City, WIC offices can also be found through ACCESS NYC.

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 office will notify you before your certification period ends — don't wait until the last week to schedule, especially at busy offices in New York City and other high-demand areas.