How to Get WIC in California
1. Are You Eligible?
WIC is for all types of families who meet the income guidelines: married and single parents, working or not working. Families who receive Medi-Cal/Medicaid, CalFresh/SNAP, or CalWorks qualify. If you are a father, mother, grandparent, foster parent, or a caretaker of a child under age five, you can apply for WIC online today.
WIC serves:
- Pregnant women
- Breastfeeding women up to one year of having a baby (postpartum)
- Non-breastfeeding women up to six months postpartum
- Women who had a pregnancy loss in the past six months
- Infants and children under five years old
- All foster children under five years old
- Fathers, grandparents, and caretakers may receive WIC food benefits for eligible infants and children
Gross Income Guidelines*
| Household Size** | Annual | Monthly | Twice-Monthly | Bi-Weekly | Weekly |
| 1 | $27,861 | $2,322 | $1,161 | $1,072 | $536 |
| 2 | $37,814 | $3.152 | $1,576 | $1,455 | $728 |
| 3 | $47,767 | $3,981 | $1,991 | $1,838 | $919 |
| 4 | $57,720 | $4,810 | $2,405 | $2,220 | $1,110 |
| 5 | $67,673 | $5,640 | $2,820 | $2,603 | $1,302 |
| 6 | $77,626 | $6,469 | $3,235 | $2,986 | $1,493 |
| 7 | $87,579 | $7,299 | $3,650 | $3,369 | $1,685 |
| 8 | $97,532 | $8,128 | $4,064 | $3,752 | $1,876 |
| More than 8 | Add per additional member | ||||
| +$9,953 | +$830 | +$415 | +$383 | +$192 | |
* Income based on 185% Federal Poverty Level. Effective April 1, 2023.
** Unborn children should be counted toward household size.
2. Apply for WIC
It’s easy! Click the button below and enter your name, address, phone number, and some basic information so we can better help you. We will contact you within 72 hours to help you complete your WIC application.
3. Complete Your Application by Phone or In Person
After you submit your application online, you will be called within 72 hours by WIC staff to complete your enrollment by phone. You will be asked for the following items to prove your eligibility for WIC. If you do not have one or more of these items right now, ask us for other options.
- An ID for yourself and your children under five. Examples of ID are Medi-Cal Card, photo ID, or birth certificate.
- Proof of your address. This can be any piece of mail with your name and current address, a rent receipt, bill, or Medi-Cal card.
- Proof of your income. This can be your Medi-Cal card, CalFresh benefits letter, disability, SSI or unemployment insurance letter, recent paycheck stub, or tax return.
At your phone enrollment appointment, you will learn about your rights and responsibilities as a WIC participant. You will also get a list of resources for your family, and a reusable California WIC Card to use to shop for healthy foods. WIC staff will explain how to use your WIC food benefits at the grocery store.
4. Shop for Food Using Your WIC Card
Bring your WIC Card and shopping guide to the grocery store. Most grocery stores accept WIC, and many WIC foods are likely already on your grocery list. Look for the California WIC logo in a store’s front window. Your WIC foods are estimated to be worth $90 per month per person receiving WIC or more, depending on your food package(s) and where you shop.
5. Stick with WIC
We’re here for you. Every 1-3 months you will have a WIC nutrition education appointment by phone or online. Keep spending your monthly WIC benefits and use all of the health education, breastfeeding support, and family resources available to you to help you and your children thrive. Families who participate in WIC have lower risk of preterm births and childhood obesity. That’s why it’s so important that everyone who is eligible to “stick with WIC” until children are five years old. Families grow healthy when they sign up for WIC! If you have any further questions on how WIC works, please feel free to contact us at any time.
WIC Overview
