Colorado WIC Program
Benefits, Eligibility & How to Apply
Colorado WIC Agency Contact
About the Colorado WIC Program
Ready to apply for Colorado WIC?
Apply online at www.coloradowic.gov → or call 303-692-2400 to get started.
Colorado WIC — administered by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and commonly referred to as COWIC — serves more than 100,000 Coloradans each month across all 64 counties. The program has been running since 1974 and is delivered through a network of local WIC agencies and clinics statewide.
Colorado WIC actively encourages families to apply even if their income is slightly above the guidelines or if they've been turned away before. Income guidelines are updated annually and what didn't qualify last year might qualify this year. If you're not sure, apply — it takes just a few minutes to submit a sign-up form at coloradowic.gov/eligibility/apply and a staff member will follow up within 10 calendar days.
Colorado's State-Specific Program Names for Auto-Eligibility
Colorado uses its own names for certain state programs. If your household receives Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid program) or Colorado Works (Colorado's TANF cash assistance program), you are automatically income-eligible for WIC — no separate income documentation required. The same applies to SNAP and the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR).
Colorado also accepts Emergency Medicaid as qualifying for automatic income eligibility. Emergency Medicaid is short-term Medicaid coverage for immigrants without legal permanent residency that covers life-threatening situations including childbirth — Colorado WIC explicitly recognizes Emergency Medicaid for adjunctive eligibility purposes, making the program accessible to a broader range of immigrant families than many other states.
All foster children under age 5 and pregnant teens in foster care are automatically income-eligible regardless of the foster family's income.
Phone and Online Appointments
Colorado WIC offers phone and online appointments "whenever possible," according to CDPHE. At least once a year, an in-person visit is required to take height and weight measurements and assess hemoglobin levels — but if you've had those measurements taken by a doctor or community health program within the last 60 days, you may be able to complete enrollment or re-enrollment entirely by phone. Contact your local WIC clinic to discuss your situation.
Online Nutrition Appointments via wichealth.org
Colorado WIC uses wichealth.org for required follow-up nutrition education appointments. Rather than calling or visiting the clinic for every follow-up, you can log into wichealth.org with your WIC Family ID (sent by text from your WIC office), complete a nutrition lesson in English or Spanish, and receive credit — all without leaving home. This is how COWIC fulfills the federal nutrition education requirement between certification appointments, giving families a genuinely flexible option.
WICShopper App
Colorado WIC has offered the WICShopper app since May 2017. Download it from the App Store or Google Play to scan product barcodes in the store aisle and instantly see whether an item is covered by your benefits. The app also displays your current benefit balance and finds nearby WIC-authorized retailers. Select Colorado when setting up the app for the first time.
Public Data Transparency
Colorado publishes more WIC data publicly than most states. The COWIC Data Dashboard at coloradowic.gov is updated monthly and shows total enrollment, race and ethnicity, age, language spoken, and participation in other programs like SNAP. A separate Redemption Data Dashboard tracks food benefit use at the product level. Quarterly WIC Snapshots give the public a regular update on enrollment trends, referral rates, and benefit redemption. Colorado WIC's referral form at coloradowicsignup.com is also public-facing, allowing healthcare providers and community organizations to refer eligible families directly.
Tribal Residents in Colorado
Colorado has two federally recognized tribes — the Southern Ute Indian Tribe (headquartered in Ignacio) and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe (headquartered in Towaoc), both located in southwestern Colorado. Neither tribe operates a separate tribally-run WIC program (ITO WIC agency). Tribal members and residents of tribal lands receive WIC services through the CDPHE state WIC program using the local clinics that serve southwestern Colorado.
Households on tribal lands who participate in the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) are automatically income-eligible for WIC — no separate income documentation required. Contact the WIC clinic nearest to your location in southwestern Colorado to enroll.
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 — Colorado WIC
Colorado 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, Colorado WIC counts you as two people in the household — yourself and the unborn child. If you are carrying multiples, each additional baby counts separately. This often shifts a household into the next income tier and can determine eligibility for families near the threshold.
Automatic Income Eligibility — Colorado's Program Names
If your household participates in any of the following programs, you are automatically income-eligible for WIC — no pay stubs or income documentation are needed:
- Health First Colorado — Colorado's Medicaid program, including standard and managed care plans. Bring your Health First Colorado ID number or card.
- Colorado Works — Colorado's name for the federal TANF cash assistance program. Bring your current benefit documentation.
- SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program / food stamps)
- FDPIR (Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations)
- Emergency Medicaid — Colorado WIC explicitly accepts Emergency Medicaid — short-term Medicaid for immigrants without legal permanent residency covering life-threatening situations including childbirth — as qualifying for automatic income eligibility.
Note: Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) does not qualify for automatic income eligibility in Colorado. CHP+ income eligibility guidelines are higher than WIC's, so CHP+ participation alone does not trigger adjunctive eligibility. If you have CHP+ but not Medicaid, you will need to provide income documentation.
All foster children under age 5 and pregnant teens in foster care are automatically income-eligible regardless of the foster family's income.
Income Documentation if Not Auto-Eligible
If your household does not participate in any of the programs above, bring income documentation for all household members for the prior 30 days — pay stubs, employer letters, benefit award letters (Social Security, SSI, unemployment), or the most recent federal tax return for self-employment income. Colorado WIC also encourages families to apply even if they have previously been denied — income limits change annually and current circumstances may differ.
Colorado WIC does not ask about immigration or citizenship status. You do not need to be a U.S. citizen to receive WIC benefits in Colorado.
