CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR), Office of Nutrition Services have announced adjusted eligibility guidelines for income for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) benefits.
The agency announced new income eligibility guidelines from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for WIC that includes a family of four can earn $51,338 and qualify for WIC benefits. That is an increase of $2,313 from last year.
“We believe these changes will allow more West Virginians to enroll in the WIC program,” said Heidi Staats, WV WIC Director said in a release. “WIC provides nutrition services to more than 33,000 West Virginia families to keep them healthy and informed about good food choices.”
West Virginia WIC serves 75% of all babies born in West Virginia, according to the DHHR. Families enrolled in the program receive nutrition education, breastfeeding education, and access to maternal, prenatal, and pediatric healthcare services that may otherwise be unavailable.
The new income guidelines are:
(Household Size, Gross Income Weekly, Gross Income Monthly, Gross Income Yearly)
1, $484, $2,096, $25,142
2, $652, $2,823, $33,874
3, $820, $3,551, $42,606
4, $988, $4,279, $51,338
For each additional family member add: $168, $728, $8,732
WIC provides pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age 5 with nutritious, supplemental foods. The WIC Program continues to offer virtual certification and benefit issuance, as well as virtual nutrition services and breastfeeding education. To learn more about WIC services or to apply, go to dhhr.wv.gov/WIC.