November 3, 2021 by Natalie Cochran
WIC is Offering a Temporary Increase in Fruits and Vegetables for the Months of October through December
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, postpartum, and breastfeeding individuals, infants, and children up to the age of five.
A new temporary dollar amount increase for fruits and vegetables is now available through the end of December. Eligible clients will receive an additional:
- $24 a month per child 1-5 years old;
- $43 a month per Pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding individuals; and
- $47 a month per Fully and partially breastfeeding individual.
You can use this additional benefit to buy fresh, frozen, or canned/jarred fruit and vegetables.
In January, the benefit amount will return to $11 for pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding individuals, and $9 for each children 1 to 5 years old.
To be eligible for WIC, applicants must have income at or below an income level or standard set by the state agency or be determined automatically income-eligible based on participation in certain programs.
Income Standard. The state agency’s income standard must be between 100 percent of the federal poverty guidelines (issued each year by the Department of Health and Human Services), but cannot be more than 185 percent of the federal poverty income guidelines. WIC 2021-2022 Income Eligibility Guidelines
Lone Star Legal Aid is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit law firm focused on advocacy for 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 with disabilities, or who are elderly, homeless, or have limited English language skills. To learn more about Lone Star Legal Aid, visit our website at https://www.lonestarlegal.org.
Media contact: Media@LoneStarLegal.org
