WIC Benefit Amounts — How Much Do You Get Per Month?
Updated August 2026
WIC doesn't pay cash — it issues a monthly food package sized to your participant category. Part of that package is a fixed dollar amount (the Cash Value Benefit for fruits and vegetables); the rest is issued in specific quantities of milk, cereal, eggs, and other foods, so its retail value depends on where you shop.
Cash Value Benefit (CVB) — Fruits & Vegetables
The CVB is the one part of your WIC package issued as a flat dollar amount, loaded onto your card each month to spend on fresh, frozen, or canned fruits and vegetables.
| Category | Monthly CVB |
|---|---|
| Children (1–4 yrs) | $26 |
| Pregnant | $47 |
| Partially Breastfeeding (up to 1 yr) | $52 |
| Postpartum (up to 6 months) | $47 |
| Fully Breastfeeding (up to 1 yr) | $52 |
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service, updated April 2024.
The Rest of the Food Package
Beyond the CVB, your package includes fixed quantities of milk, cereal, eggs, bread, canned fish, and legumes or peanut butter. These aren't dollar amounts — they're maximum quantities you can pick up each month, and their actual store value varies.
Milk
- Children (1–4 yrs)
- 12–14 qt
- Pregnant
- 16 qt
- Partially Breastfeeding
- 16 qt
- Postpartum
- 16 qt
- Fully Breastfeeding
- 16 qt
Juice
- Children (1–4 yrs)
- 64 fl oz
- Pregnant
- 64 fl oz
- Partially Breastfeeding
- 64 fl oz
- Postpartum
- 64 fl oz
- Fully Breastfeeding
- 64 fl oz
Breakfast cereal
- Children (1–4 yrs)
- 36 oz
- Pregnant
- 36 oz
- Partially Breastfeeding
- 36 oz
- Postpartum
- 36 oz
- Fully Breastfeeding
- 36 oz
Eggs
- Children (1–4 yrs)
- 1 dozen
- Pregnant
- 1 dozen
- Partially Breastfeeding
- 1 dozen
- Postpartum
- 1 dozen
- Fully Breastfeeding
- 2 dozen
Whole wheat bread
- Children (1–4 yrs)
- 24 oz
- Pregnant
- 48 oz
- Partially Breastfeeding
- 48 oz
- Postpartum
- 48 oz
- Fully Breastfeeding
- 48 oz
Canned fish
- Children (1–4 yrs)
- 6 oz
- Pregnant
- 10 oz
- Partially Breastfeeding
- 15 oz
- Postpartum
- 10 oz
- Fully Breastfeeding
- 20 oz
Legumes / peanut butter
- Children (1–4 yrs)
- 1 lb or 18 oz
- Pregnant
- 1 lb and 18 oz
- Partially Breastfeeding
- 1 lb and 18 oz
- Postpartum
- 1 lb or 18 oz
- Fully Breastfeeding
- 1 lb and 18 oz
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service, updated April 2024. See the full WIC approved foods list for brands and package sizes.
Infant Formula (Fully Formula-Fed)
Formula-fed infants receive a monthly formula allowance instead of the fruit/vegetable CVB. Infants who are partially breastfed receive a reduced formula amount, and fully breastfed infants receive no formula, plus a larger cereal allowance and referrals to breastfeeding support instead.
| Infant Age | Maximum Formula |
|---|---|
| 0–3 months | Up to 806 fl. oz. |
| 4–5 months | Up to 884 fl. oz. |
| 6–11 months | Up to 624 fl. oz. |
The exact brand depends on your state's contract formula — see the WIC formula coverage page for how that works. At 6 months, infants also become eligible for baby food: up to 128 oz of fruits and vegetables per month.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money does WIC provide monthly?
WIC issues a monthly food package rather than cash, but part of that package — the Cash Value Benefit (CVB) for fruits and vegetables — is a fixed dollar amount: $26/month for children, $47/month for pregnant and postpartum women, and $52/month for breastfeeding women. The rest of the package (milk, cereal, eggs, bread, and more) is issued in specific quantities, not dollars, so its retail value varies by store and state.
How much baby food does WIC give per month?
Infants 6 through 11 months old receive up to 128 oz of baby food fruits and vegetables per month, plus 8 oz of infant cereal (or 16 oz for fully breastfed infants, who receive a larger cereal allowance and no formula). Infants under 6 months do not receive baby food — their package is formula and/or breastfeeding support only.
How many cans of formula does WIC give a month?
It depends on age and how much you supplement with breastfeeding. Fully formula-fed infants can receive up to 806 fl oz/month at 0–3 months, 884 fl oz/month at 4–5 months, and 624 fl oz/month at 6–11 months. Partially breastfeeding infants receive roughly half that amount. Exact can counts depend on your state's contract formula brand and can size — ask your WIC clinic to convert your allowance to cans.
What does WIC give you after your baby turns 1?
At 12 months, a child moves from the infant food package to the child package: whole milk, cereal, eggs, whole wheat bread, canned fish, legumes or peanut butter, and a $26/month Cash Value Benefit for fruits and vegetables. Formula and baby food end at this point unless a medical exemption applies.
Does the WIC benefit amount change every year?
The quantities (milk, cereal, eggs, etc.) rarely change. The Cash Value Benefit dollar amounts are set in the federal WIC food package regulations and are adjusted periodically, not every year. Check this page or your state WIC agency for the current CVB amount.