Michigan WIC Program
Benefits, Eligibility & How to Apply
Michigan WIC Agency Contact
About the Michigan WIC Program
Ready to apply for Michigan WIC?
Apply online at newmibridges.michigan.gov → or call 1-800-942-1636 to get started.
Michigan WIC is administered by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) through local health departments and WIC agencies serving all 83 Michigan counties. The program serves pregnant women, breastfeeding and chestfeeding individuals, postpartum individuals, infants, and children under age five. Michigan has made meaningful investments in modernizing WIC access: the state offers an online application portal through MI Bridges, has expanded telehealth appointment options, and in 2024 rebranded its farmers market program — formerly known as Project FRESH — as the WIC Produce Connection, loading benefits directly onto WIC EBT cards.
Who Qualifies for WIC in Michigan
Michigan WIC is open to pregnant women, breastfeeding or chestfeeding individuals up to one year postpartum, postpartum individuals up to six months after delivery, infants, and children under age five. Parents, guardians, and foster parents can apply on behalf of eligible children.
If your household receives Medicaid, Food Assistance Program (FAP/SNAP), or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), you automatically meet WIC's income requirement. Bring your current enrollment documentation to your appointment. Michigan explicitly notes that families who do not qualify for these programs may still qualify for WIC because WIC's income limit is higher than SNAP's — so it's worth applying even if you were denied other benefits.
For households not on those programs, the standard threshold is 185% of the federal poverty level based on gross household income. Each expected infant counts as one additional person in the family size for income calculation purposes.
Michigan has 12 federally recognized tribes. Tribal members participating in the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) should contact their local WIC office about adjunctive eligibility options.
What Michigan WIC Provides
Benefits are loaded onto a Michigan WIC EBT card redeemable at authorized retail grocery stores and pharmacies statewide. Michigan's food packages include milk, cheese, yogurt, eggs, whole grains, 100% juice, beans, peanut butter, tofu, canned fish, infant formula, and baby food.
Michigan WIC also participates in the WIC Produce Connection (formerly Project FRESH), which provides benefits for locally grown Michigan fruits and vegetables from authorized growers, farmers markets, and roadside stands. As of 2024, these benefits are loaded directly onto participants' WIC EBT cards rather than issued as paper coupons. The program is seasonal — visit michigan.gov/mdhhs for current benefit period dates and the authorized grower list.
Breastfeeding support is available through WIC peer counselors and International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs) in many local agencies. Michigan WIC offers telehealth video appointment options — useful for participants in rural Upper Peninsula and northern Michigan counties where clinic access can be limited.
How to Apply for WIC in Michigan
Michigan has an online WIC application through MI Bridges. You can find a WIC clinic near you at michigan.gov/mdhhs, or call 2-1-1 to be connected to WIC services in your area. Michigan State University Extension also supports Michigan WIC by offering nutrition education programs to families with infants and young children.
Recertification in Michigan
Pregnant participants are certified through delivery. Breastfeeding participants are certified up to one year postpartum. Postpartum non-breastfeeding participants are certified for six months. Children are certified annually. To obtain a Verification of Certification (VOC) if you're moving out of Michigan, contact your local clinic or call 1-800-942-1636.
Michigan WIC and Lead Testing
Michigan WIC clinics conduct lead testing for children — a meaningful public health function given Michigan's history of lead exposure concerns in communities like Flint. Lead testing done at WIC is tracked at the state level as part of Michigan's broader childhood lead poisoning prevention program. If you're concerned about your child's lead exposure, your local Michigan WIC clinic can screen and refer.
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 — Michigan WIC
Michigan 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). | ||
Automatic Income Eligibility in Michigan
If your household participates in any of these programs, you automatically meet WIC's income requirement in Michigan:
- Medicaid
- Food Assistance Program (FAP) — Michigan's SNAP program
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Bring your current enrollment documentation to your WIC appointment instead of income paperwork. Michigan WIC specifically notes that families who do not qualify for FAP or Medicaid may still qualify for WIC, because WIC's income limit is set higher than SNAP's threshold — so it's worth applying even if you were previously denied other benefits.
Michigan has 12 federally recognized tribes. Tribal members participating in the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) should contact their local WIC office about adjunctive eligibility options.
What Counts as Income in Michigan
Michigan WIC counts all gross household income before taxes, including wages, self-employment income, Social Security, child support, alimony, unemployment benefits, and pension income. Housing assistance and tax refunds are not counted.
Income Is Not the Only Requirement
Meeting the income threshold qualifies you on one criterion, but Michigan WIC also requires a nutritional risk determination made at your free certification appointment. Nearly all applicants meet at least one nutritional risk criterion. Use the eligibility check tool at wiccp.state.mi.us to pre-screen before contacting a local clinic.
