WIC Program

WHAT IS WIC?

WIC is a nutrition program that provides nutrition and health education, healthy food and other services free of charge to Massachusetts families who qualify. WIC stands for Women, Infants and Children.

WHAT DOES WIC OFFER?

WIC’s goal is to help keep pregnant and breastfeeding women and kids under age 5 healthy. To do this, WIC provides:

  • Personalized nutrition consultants
  • Checks to buy free, healthy food
  • Tips for eating well to improve health
  • Referrals for medical and dental care, health insurance, child care, housing and fuel assistance and other services that can benefit the whole family

But that's not all! WIC also offers breastfeeding classes, one-on-one breastfeeding support, as well as immunization screening and referrals. WIC also provides parents with opportunities to talk with other parents about nutrition and other health topics that are important to their families.

WHO IS WIC FOR?

WIC is for all kinds of families: married and single parents, working or not working. If you are a father, mother, grandparent, foster parent or other legal guardian of a child under 5, you can apply for WIC for your child.

You can participate in WIC if you:

  • Live in Massachusetts
  • Have a nutritional need (WIC staff can help you determine this)
  • Are a child under 5, or a pregnant or breastfeeding woman, and
  • Have a family income equal to or less than WIC guidelines.

INCOME ELIGIBLE GUIDLINES (April 3,2010-June 30, 2011)
HOUSEHOLD YEARLY MONTHLY BI-WEEKLY WEEKLY
1 $20,036 $1,670 $771 $386
2 $26,955 $2,247 $1,037 $519
3 $33,874 $2,823 $1,303 $652
4 $40,793 $3,400 $1,569 $785
5 $47,712 $3,976 $1,836 $918
6 $54,631 $4,553 $2,102 $1,051
7 $61,550 $5,130 $2,368 $1,184
8 $68,469 $5,706 $2,634 $1,317

If you are pregnant, you should count yourself as two.

You are automatically income eligible for WIC if you are currently receiving TAFDC, Food Stamps or MassHealth. (MassHealth members with Family Assistance or CommonHealth coverage are not automatically income eligible.) Foster kids under age 5 are also automatically eligible for WIC.

CAN MEN PARTICIPATE IN WIC?

WIC welcomes men! WIC recognizes the important role that fathers, grandparents, stepparents, and other guardian play in caring for kids. Fathers and other caregivers of kids under 5 are encouraged to enroll and bring kids to appointments, attend nutrition health workshops, and use WIC checks in grocery stores.

HOW DO I APPLY FOR WIC?

Check out the Blue Hill Corridor WIC Program’s Locations to set up an appointment. We have 4 Sites that offer evening hours and once a month a Saturday at the main site, so you do not have to miss work. Walk-ins are always welcome.

WHAT CAN I BUY WITH WIC CHECKS?

WIC checks make it easier for you to provide the healthy, delicious foods that you feel good about giving your family. WIC checks are also easy to use. Just take them with you when you go food shopping and use them to get free healthy food including:

  • Baby Food
  • Brown Rice
  • Canned Fish
  • Cereal
  • Cheese
  • Dried or canned beans/peas
  • Eggs
  • Fruit juice
  • Fruits & Vegetables
  • Infant Formula
  • Milk
  • Peanut butter
  • Tortillas
  • Whole grain bread
  • Tofu

Do you have any questions? Contact WIC today to learn more. Call the WIC office at 617-822-5584 or 1-800-WIC-1007 or visit www.mass.gov/wic.