North Carolina, Raleigh – Mothers and their young children have very important support from the state that helps them take care of their nutrition during pregnancy, breastfeeding and until the children are 5 years old: the WIC Program.
The North Carolina Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) provides a combination of education, supplemental foods, breastfeeding promotion and support, and referrals to health services.
The WIC program in North Carolina is administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS), Division of Public Health, Women's and Children's Health Section, and Area Nutrition Services.
Services are provided by county health departments, community and rural health centers, and community action agencies.
Are you worried that receiving WIC will affect your chances of getting your green card or resident card in the United States?
👉 For WIC, your immigration status does not matter. You can receive every benefit WIC offers.e .
👉 WIC and Your Personal Information All personal information, including your address and contact information, is private. WIC does not share any of this information with immigration officials.
👉 Your participation in WIC does not affect any members of your family who are trying to change their immigration status.
What benefits does the WIC Program offer?
nutritious food
The WIC Program promotes healthy habits and families, such as:
- Breastfeeding the baby
- Eat more fiber
- Lower fat
- Eat more fruits and vegetables
- Eat more whole grains
- Drink less juices and sugary drinks
- Make family meals matter
To help participants practice these habits, WIC provides basic nutritious foods to eligible pregnant, lactating, and postpartum women, as well as infants and children. These foods are rich in protein, iron, calcium, fiber and vitamins.
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baby food
The WIC program in North Carolina provides food for babies from birth to 12 months.
The Program strongly encourages and provides support for breastfeeding. Recognizes that breastfeeding is the best method of feeding and raising children. However, formula-fed babies receive the WIC contract's standard milk- and soy-based iron-fortified infant formula for the first year of life.
Starting at six months of age, babies can also receive iron-fortified baby cereals and baby fruits and vegetables. Babies who are fully breastfed also receive baby meats.
- Breastmilk
- infant formula
- Infant cereal
- Children's fruits and vegetables
- Baby meats (for fully breastfed babies only)
Food for women and children
Women and children (ages one to five) who participate in WIC receive food instruments and coupons with cash value for a variety of healthy foods.
- Milk
- Cereal
- Whole wheat bread, brown rice, whole wheat and soft corn tortillas
- Fruits and vegetables
- Juice
- Cheese
- tofu
- Soy-based drink
- Dried or Canned Beans, Peas, and Lentils
- Peanut butter
- Eggs
Additional Foods for Exclusively Breastfeeding Women
- Higher amounts of the foods listed above
- Pieces of tuna or light salmon
Likewise, it provides nutritional education to all adults, and whenever possible, to children directly, in order to establish healthy eating and physical habits.
WIC is also a complement to the health care system, and breastfeeding promotion and support is an integral part of the program.
Who is eligible for the WIC Program?
WIC is available to pregnant, lactating, and postpartum women, infants, and children up to five years old. Foster families with qualifying individuals may be eligible to receive WIC benefits. To participate, these people must:
- Living in North Carolina
- Have a family income less than 185% of the United States Poverty Income Guidelines. A person who receives Medicaid, Work First Families Assistance (TANF), or assistance from North Carolina Food and Nutrition Services (SNAP) automatically meets the income eligibility requirement.
Being at nutritional risk. A nutritionist or other health care professional performs the nutritional risk assessment at no cost to the participant, usually at the local WIC office.
How do you know if the requirements are met?
To find out if you qualify for WIC, you can also use this tool (select Spanish).
This prescreening tool is not an application for WIC. To apply for WIC benefits, you must make an appointment with a local WIC agency in the county where you live in North Carolina.
To qualify, the person must have an annual household income (before taxes) that is less than or equal to the following amounts:
Annual household income limits (before taxes)
Maximum Gross Income
| Home size | Annual | Monthly | Twice a month | Biweekly | Monthly |
| 1 | 25,142 | 2,096 | 1,048 | 967 | 484 |
| 2 | 33,874 | 2,823 | 1,412 | 1,303 | 652 |
| 3 | 42,606 | 3,551 | 1,776 | 1,639 | 820 |
| 4 | 51,338 | 4,279 | 2,140 | 1,975 | 988 |
| 5 | 60,070 | 5,006 | 2,503 | 2,311 | 1,156 |
| 6 | 68,802 | 5,734 | 2,867 | 2,647 | 1,324 |
| 7 | 77,534 | 6,462 | 3,231 | 2,983 | 1,492 |
| 8 | 86,266 | 7,189 | 3,595 | 3,318 | 1,659 |
*For households with more than eight people, $8,732 must be added per additional person. It is always necessary to consult with the appropriate administrative agency to ensure you receive the most accurate guidelines.
How to apply to the WIC Program in North Carolina?
*To apply for the WIC program, you must contact the local WIC agency office that serves residents of the county in which you live, or complete the WIC Referral Form, available by clicking here.
*To find the location of the WIC office in the county where you live, you can:
-Check the county directory in this site
-Contact your local health department, which is you can search here
What documents are needed to apply for WIC benefits?
When applying for WIC, the person must provide the following:
-Proof of identification (for all people applying for WIC)
-Proof of income (for all household members with income)
-Proof of residency (where you live)
-Examples of what you will need to bring:
ID: (Only one needed) – Valid driver’s license, Social Security card, current work/school ID, current Medicaid card, current military ID, birth certificate, immunization record, and for babies: hospital crib card, ID bracelet, or verification of mother’s facts form.
Residence (where you live): (Only one needed) – Current utility bill, valid driver’s license, current Medicaid card (or presumptive eligibility form), bank statement, current rent or mortgage receipts, Division of Motor Vehicles ID card.
Income: current pay stubs, if self-employed, your recent tax return or income history for the last twelve months, current Medicaid card, a certification letter from North Carolina Food and Nutrition Services, a letter from your employer indicating gross income and payment frequency, unemployment letter/notice.
To qualify for WIC in North Carolina, applicants must be income eligible and have an identified medical/nutritional risk factor. These criteria will be evaluated when you apply for WIC at your local WIC office.
With some exceptions, each person applying for WIC must be physically present at the time of application at the local WIC office.
More information about the WIC Program
NCDHHS site for the program https://www.nutritionnc.com/wic/
Federal Government WIC Program Site click here
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