Arkansas WIC Program
Benefits, Eligibility & How to Apply
Arkansas WIC Agency Contact
About the Arkansas WIC Program
Ready to apply for Arkansas WIC?
Call 1-800-235-0002 to schedule your first appointment, or see the step-by-step application guide →
Arkansas WIC is administered by the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), Nutrition/WIC Program and serves tens of thousands of Arkansas families each month — including pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children ages 1 to 4. The program is available at all Local Health Units in Arkansas, satellite clinics, and four dedicated WIC-only clinics. To apply, call your local county health unit or the State WIC Office at 501-661-2508 or toll-free at 1-800-235-0002. You can also email wic.program@arkansas.gov.
The program has no enrollment caps, so if you meet the income and eligibility criteria, there is no waiting list.
Apply in Any Arkansas County
Arkansas WIC has an unusually flexible geographic policy: you can apply for and receive WIC in any county in Arkansas — not just the county where you live. If the clinic nearest your home has a longer wait or inconvenient hours, you are free to make an appointment at any other county health unit or WIC clinic in the state. This is explicitly stated on the ADH WIC page and gives Arkansas families more flexibility than most other state programs.
TEA and ARKids — Arkansas's Program Names
Arkansas uses state-specific names for several programs that trigger automatic WIC income eligibility. TEA (Transitional Employment Assistance) is Arkansas's name for the federal TANF cash assistance program. ARKids is Arkansas's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Both TEA and ARKids are listed by name on the ADH WIC website alongside Medicaid and SNAP as qualifying programs for automatic income eligibility — knowing these names matters when gathering documents for your appointment.
Tuesday Extended Hours — Statewide
Every Arkansas Local Health Unit maintains a distinctive statewide schedule: standard hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday — but on Tuesdays, all units stay open until 6:00 p.m., starting at 9:30 a.m. This extended Tuesday schedule is a statewide policy designed to accommodate working families who cannot make daytime appointments on other days. If you work a standard daytime schedule, Tuesday afternoon or evening appointments are your best option across the state.
WICShopper App
Arkansas WIC participants can use the free WICShopper app — available on the App Store and Google Play — to access their shopping list, scan foods to check WIC eligibility, view nutritional information, and find WIC-approved recipes. The app was introduced alongside Arkansas's transition to eWIC cards. Up to three months of benefits can be loaded onto the eWIC card at a time, though participants must visit the clinic to receive each new benefit issuance.
Breastfeeding Support
Arkansas law protects a mother's right to breastfeed. Arkansas WIC provides breastfeeding education, peer counseling, and breast pumps to qualifying participants. Breastfeeding mothers receive an enhanced food package with additional foods, and WIC support continues for up to one year postpartum for breastfeeding women.
Income at or below 185% FPL. Automatic eligibility with Medicaid, SNAP, or TANF.
Monthly food benefits loaded to your WIC EBT card plus nutrition education and breastfeeding support.
Frequently Asked Questions — Arkansas WIC
Arkansas WIC Income Limits 2026
| Household Size | Annual Gross Income | Monthly Gross Income |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $28,953 | $2,413 |
| 2 | $39,128 | $3,261 |
| 3 | $49,303 | $4,109 |
| 4 | $59,478 | $4,957 |
| 5 | $69,653 | $5,805 |
| 6 | $79,828 | $6,653 |
| 7 | $90,003 | $7,501 |
| 8 | $100,178 | $8,349 |
| Each additional person | add $10,175 | add $848 |
| Effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. Figures are 185% of the federal poverty guidelines for the 48 contiguous states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories (including Guam). Alaska and Hawaii residents see higher income limits. Source: USDA FNS Federal Register notice 2025-03576 (90 FR 11598). | ||
Pregnant Women Count as Two
If you are pregnant, Arkansas WIC counts you as two household members — yourself and the unborn child. If expecting multiples, count each baby separately. This can increase your household size and raise the income threshold that applies to your family.
Automatic Income Eligibility — Arkansas's Program Names
Arkansas uses state-specific names for several qualifying programs. If your household participates in any of the following, you are automatically income-eligible for WIC and do not need to provide separate income documentation:
- Medicaid — Arkansas's Medicaid program
- ARKids — Arkansas's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). ARKids is explicitly listed by name on the ADH WIC page as a qualifying program alongside Medicaid.
- TEA (Transitional Employment Assistance) — Arkansas's name for the federal TANF cash assistance program
- SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program / food stamps)
Bring your current benefit card, award letter, or enrollment documentation for any of these programs to your WIC appointment. Proof of enrollment replaces income documentation entirely. Proof of Medicaid, TEA, or SNAP enrollment also satisfies the proof of Arkansas residency requirement — you do not need a separate utility bill if you bring one of these documents.
Income Documentation if Not Auto-Eligible
If your household does not participate in any of the qualifying programs above, bring proof of income for all household members — current pay stubs, W-2 forms, your most recent federal income tax return, or employer letters stating gross wages. Arkansas WIC uses gross income before any deductions or taxes.
Arkansas WIC does not ask about citizenship or immigration status. Receiving WIC benefits will not affect immigration status.
