South Carolina WIC Program

South Carolina WIC is administered by the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) and delivered through county health departments in all 46 South Carolina counties. In May 2024, the program reached its highest monthly caseload in seven years — serving 100,540 participants, the first time enrollment had topped 100,000 since March 2017 — a milestone DPH credited to a new online pre-application portal, a state WIC mobile app, and an electronic farmers' market payment system.

Who WIC Serves in South Carolina

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 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. There is no citizenship or immigration status requirement.

What Your Benefits Include

Once approved, benefits are loaded onto an eWIC card that works like a debit card at authorized stores displaying the "SC WIC Accepted Here" sign, 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 programs like Medicaid and SNAP. Many participants use the free South Carolina WIC App to scan barcodes and confirm an item is approved, check their benefit balance, view upcoming appointments, and find nearby WIC-authorized stores and clinics.

How WIC Works in South Carolina

South Carolina WIC isn't run out of a single state office — it's delivered through county health departments across the state. The fastest way to get started is to call 1-855-472-3432 to schedule an appointment, or begin an online pre-application at apps.dhec.sc.gov/Health/WIC, which securely sends your information to your preferred health department so a WIC staff member can follow up. Appointments can be in person or by phone, and many county health department locations also offer walk-in hours.

Staying Enrolled

Certification periods follow federal guidelines: pregnant participants are certified through pregnancy and six months postpartum (up to a year if breastfeeding), infants are recertified around six months and again near their first birthday, and children are recertified every six to twelve months until age 5. Follow-up appointments, required every two to three months, include nutrition education that can often be completed online. Contact your local county health department before your certification period ends to avoid a lapse in benefits.