Women, Infant & Children (WIC) Nutrition Program

Quality nutrition services are the centerpiece of the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) nutrition program at Spokane Regional Health District. The program also offers breastfeeding education, free healthy foods, and help accessing other health care for low- and moderate-income women and children with, or at risk of developing, nutrition-related health problems.

Local services are part of a federal program with an extraordinary record of preventing children’s health problems and improving their health, growth and development. In Spokane County, WIC’s committed, results-oriented, and entrepreneurial staff stretch resources to serve all eligible women and children while ensuring program effectiveness and integrity. WIC children enter school ready to learn and show better cognitive performance.

Who is eligible and who can apply?

• Pregnant women
• Women who are breastfeeding a baby under 1 year of age
• Women who have had a baby in the past six months
• Parents, step-parents, guardians, and foster parents of infants and children under the age of 5 can apply for their children
• If a person has a job or if he or she has private health insurance, they can still apply for WIC. A person does not have to be married to apply for WIC.

For more eligibility requirements, see below.

• Family member or child must be a Washington state resident
• To be eligible on the basis of income, applicants’ income must fall at or below 185 percent of the U.S. Poverty Income Guidelines (currently $45,510 for a family of four).

*A household is defined as a group of related or non-related individuals, who usually, although not necessarily, are living together and share income.

**Gross income is income before taxes and deductions.

A person who participates or has family members who participate in certain other benefit programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Medicaid, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, automatically meets the income eligibility requirement.

The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and operated by the Washington State Department of Health (DOH).

You can now use a WIC card to access benefits

WIC benefits are now loaded on the WIC Card for faster and easier checkout at the store. Buy only the foods you want each shopping trip. All family benefits are loaded on the same account (no more multiple checks in a family).

WIC Shopper application is available to sync with your WIC Card. Use this card to do the following:

• Scan foods to see if they’re allowed,
• Know exactly what benefits you have used and what you have left, and
• Notify the state if you think a food is WIC approved and you can’t buy it.

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sec, age, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call 800.795.3272 (voice) or 202.720.6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Washington WIC does not discriminate.