West Virginia WIC Program

West Virginia WIC is administered by the West Virginia Department of Health's Office of Nutrition Services (ONS), but delivered locally through eight regional networks of health department and community health clinics reaching all 55 counties — from the Northern Panhandle to the southern coalfields.

Who WIC Serves in West Virginia

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, foster parents, grandparents, and other guardians can apply on behalf of an eligible child. To qualify, a household needs to meet income guidelines and show a nutrition-related risk — like being underweight, anemic, or newly pregnant — which a WIC health professional confirms at your certification appointment.

What Your Benefits Include

Once approved, benefits are loaded monthly onto an eWIC card that works like a debit card at more than 250 authorized grocery stores statewide, covering foods like milk, eggs, cheese, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and infant formula. WIC also connects families to breastfeeding support from lactation counselors, one-on-one nutrition education, and referrals to other services like Medicaid or SNAP — including healthcare, dental, and substance use recovery referrals that matter in a state significantly affected by the opioid epidemic. Many participants use the free WICShopper app to scan barcodes and confirm an item is approved before it hits the register, and complete required nutrition lessons between appointments through WICSmart.

How WIC Works in West Virginia

Because West Virginia WIC is delivered through eight regional networks of local health department clinics rather than a single state office, the fastest way to get started is the online pre-application at wvwichousehold.wvdhhr.org. After you submit it, a clinic staff member contacts you to schedule the in-person certification appointment every applicant needs. You can also call your local clinic directly at 304-558-0030 or find one through the clinic locator at dhhr.wv.gov/WIC.

Staying Enrolled

Recertification timing depends on your category: pregnant participants are certified through delivery, breastfeeding participants up to a year postpartum, non-breastfeeding postpartum participants for six months, and children annually. Your local clinic will notify you before your certification period ends — keep your contact information current so you don't lose a month of benefits waiting on a callback.