Frequently Asked Questions about WIC
- What is WIC?
- What can I get from WIC?
- Who is WIC for?
- How long can I stay on WIC?
- What do I need to do to stay on WIC?
- How does the program work?
- What are my rights?
- How can I get answers to my nutrition and health questions?
- What should I do to help the WIC program work for me?
- How do I get my food?
- How do I keep track of deliveries?
- How do I make sure my food keeps coming?
- Are there other programs for families who get WIC?
What is WIC?
WIC is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, a program that helps families eat well and stay healthy.
What can I get from WIC?
- Healthy foods delivered free to your home (including milk, juice, cereal, peanut butter or beans, eggs and cheese)
- Nutrition education, such as cooking classes, nutrition counseling, and a quarterly newsletter with information on nutrition, health and local events.
- Support and help with breastfeeding
- Referrals for health care and community services, such as La Leche League, Parent Child Centers and Head Start.
- Kids’ health screenings, including growth assessments and nutrition screenings.
Who is WIC for?
Income-eligible and nutritionally or medically at risk pregnant, postpartum or breastfeeding women, and children younger than 5 years old.
An individual may not participate in both WIC and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) at the same time.
How long can I stay on WIC?
You may stay on WIC as long as you meet the income, health, and age guidelines.
For women:
- while you are pregnant, and
- if breastfeeding, until one year after your baby is born.
- if not breastfeeding, until six months after your baby is born.
For babies and children:
- Until your child reaches age 5
How do I need to do to stay on WIC?
Every 6 months, WIC staff will check to see if you, or your child, still qualify for WIC. This is called recertification. You will need to make an appointment to see us and bring:
- Proof of residency, identity, and income (a Medicaid or Dr. Dynasaur card is considered proof of all three).
- Your child’s immunization records.
- Your baby or child.
How does the program work?
- If you are income eligible, you may contact the Department of Health District Office serving your town or city of residence.
- You will set up an appointment at one of the local clinics—held in many locations around the state—where you will be provided with a variety of health and nutrition-related services, including health screening, nutrition education and counseling.
- Food packages will be delivered to your home by private home-delivery vendors, usually once a week. The packages may include milk, cheese, eggs, peanut butter or beans, cereal and fruit juice. The value of the food is typically $40 or more.
- You may be eligible for additional services, including individualized nutrition counseling.
- If you are breastfeeding, you’ll receive additional support and educational materials. You also may be eligible to get foods such as tuna and fresh carrots as well as a breast pump when you return to work or school.
What are my rights?
- You have the right to nutrition education and referrals to other health services.
- You have the right to have my WIC transferred to a different district or a different state if I move.
- You have the right to be treated fairly and courteously by WIC staff.
- You have the right to be treated with courtesy and respect by my vendor and their employees.
- You have the right to have information I give to the WIC program treated as confidential.
- You may appeal any decisions made by WIC regarding eligibility for the program for myself or my child(ren).
- WIC is an equal opportunity program. You have the right to WIC services regardless of race, color, national origin, age, sex (of children) or disability. If you believe you have been discriminated against because of one of these reasons, you may contact the Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, DC, 20250.
How can I get answers to my nutrition and health questions?
In addition to your WIC appointments, you can join other families for health and nutrition activities. These activities may include cooking classes or talks about topics like breastfeeding, healthy pregnancy or healthy foods kids like to eat. You can also make a private appointment or call your Health Department District Office, Monday-Friday, 7:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., to get answers to nutrition questions.
What should I do to help the WIC program work for me?
- Sign your Proof of Delivery form (POD) and return it to your vendor each month.
- Keep your WIC appointments. Call to reschedule if you can't go to an appointment. If you miss an appointment, your foods may stop.
- Call us about any changed in your name, address, telephone number, income or Medicaid status.
- If you move, ask WIC staff how to transfer your WIC to a new location in Vermont or another state.
- Treat staff and vendors with courtesy and respect
- If you started WIC when you were pregnant, tell us when your baby is born.
- WIC foods are for the participating family member. Tell us if your food order needs to be changed, or if you want food deliveries stopped for a short time while you are away from home.
- Do not sell or give away your WIC foods or formula.
How do I get my food?
In Vermont, you get WIC foods from a vendor (a person who delivers food). The food is delivered to your home about 10 days after your first WIC appointment. If you live in an area where food is not delivered, WIC staff will help you and your vendor find a place where your food can be delivered.
It’s best to be home when your food is delivered so that you can put it in the refrigerator right away. If that is not possible, leave a cooler labeled, “WIC” where the vendor can see it. In warm weather, it is a good idea to put some ice in the cooler. When the weather is very cold, the cooler will help keep your food from freezing.
How do I keep track of deliveries?
Each month you will get a Proof of Delivery form, called a POD. The POD helps you keep track of your WIC food. You must sign the POD and give it to your vendor every month to keep getting WIC food.
How do I make sure my food keeps coming?
- Use your monthly Proof of Delivery form or POD to make sure that you got all the right foods each week. If some food is missing or bad, call your vendor right away to get foods replaced.
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At the end of the month, sign your POD
- Check "yes" if you got all the right food.
- Check "no" if you did not get all of the right food. Fill in the "foods not received" column.
- Put the POD out for the vendor to pick up at the first food delivery of the next month.
- Leave the POD or note in a place where your vendor will see it OR mail the POD directly to the vendor.
- If you lose your POD, mail the yellow postcard or a note saying whether or not you got all your WIC food, and include your name and address.
If your vendor does not get a signed copy of your POD, you will stop getting your WIC food. You must sign the POD to show that you got your WIC food each month for delivery to continue.
How can I contact WIC?
- Call 1-800-464-4343, ext. 7333 (toll-free within Vermont), or 802-863-7333.
- Visit our District Office web site to find contact information for the Health Department district office that serves your community.
Are there other programs for families who get WIC?
Many WIC families are enrolled in other related programs and services.
More About Medicaid & Dr. Dynasaur
Medicaid is a jointly-funded, federal-state health insurance program. In Vermont, Medicaid insurance programs for pregnant women and for children up to age 18 are known collectively as the Dr. Dynasaur program. For information about Dr. Dynasaur and other Medicaid coverage, you may call (toll-free within Vermont) 800-250-8427.
More About the Commodity Supplemental Food Program:
Mothers whose WIC eligibility runs out when their infants are 6 months old may enroll in CSFP (the Commodity Supplemental Food Program). Children turning 5 also may be enrolled in CSFP, and receive benefits from age 5 to 6.
- For information, call 1-800-214-4648 (toll-free within Vermont)
No single individual can receive assistance from both WIC and CSFP at the same time. The same household, however, may include different individuals receiving assistance from each program at the same time.
More About the Food Stamp Program
Food Stamps is a nutrition assistance program that provides benefits for the purchase of nutritious food to qualified low-income people and their families.
For more information about the Food Stamp Program in Vermont, you may call (toll-free within Vermont) 800-287-0589.