COVID-19 –WIC (Special Food Stamps for Pregnant Women, Infants and Children) FAQ

Administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), WIC is a federally funded program to provide nutrition benefits, education, supplemental food, breastfeeding support, and referrals to healthcare and social services to at-risk pregnant and postpartum women, infants and children up to the age of five. With the recent passage of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act to COVID-19, WIC received $500 million in funding to support mothers, infants and children that rely on WIC.

In the midst of the COVID-19 public health emergency, it can be challenging to get all of your questions answered, so Lone Star Legal Aid has posted answers to your most frequently asked questions here.  

Who is eligible?

Women

• Pregnant: During pregnancy and up to six weeks after the birth of an infant or the end of the pregnancy;
• Postpartum: Up to six months after the birth of the infant or at the end of the pregnancy; or
• Breastfeeding: Up to the infant’s first birthday.

Infants and Children

• Children up to five years old

What are the income requirements?

To be eligible for WIC, your income must be at or below 185% of the 2020 federal poverty guidelines.

Do I have to see a doctor first to determine eligibility?

No. Until May 31, 2020, you do not have to see a doctor to apply due to COVID-19.

Which foods does WIC provide?

WIC supplies specific foods to supplement the dietary needs of participants to ensure good health and development. Food packages include iron-facilitated infant cereal, milk, cheese eggs, whole grains, peanut butter, beans, fruit, vegetables, and juice.

Will WIC agencies extend or rollover participant benefit issuance?

No. Food benefits cannot be rolled over into subsequent months and multiple months of benefits cannot be provided in one month. Additionally, the last date use of benefit cannot be changed.

Texans can dial 2-1-1 (option 6) for information on COVID-19 and local community resources on health care, utilities, food, housing and more. More COVID-19 information.

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Lone Star Legal Aid is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit law firm focused on advocacy on behalf of low-income and underserved populations. Lone Star Legal Aid serves millions of people at 125% of federal poverty guidelines that reside in 72 counties in the eastern and Gulf Coast regions of Texas, and 4 counties of southwest Arkansas. Lone Star Legal Aid focuses its resources on maintaining, enhancing, and protecting income and economic stability; preserving housing; improving outcomes for children; establishing and sustaining family safety and stability, health and well‐being; and assisting populations with special vulnerabilities, like those who have disabilities, or who are elderly, homeless, or have limited English language skills. To learn more about Lone Star Legal Aid, visit our website at www.lonestarlegal.org.

Media contact: Clarissa Ayala, cayala@lonestarlegal.org