WYOMING — The Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Program, which provides benefits to mothers and young children, has expanded applicant eligibility by updating its income guidelines and modernizing its resources. The changes went into effect on Monday, July 1.
WIC is the state chapter of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children Program, a joint federal and state government effort under the USDA.
According to the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH), the WIC Program offers free food, education, recipes and shopping tips, breastfeeding support and pumps and healthcare referrals to thousands of families across the state. WIC is aimed at helping women who are pregnant or new moms, infants and children up to age five.
“We know WIC services can significantly improve participant health while also helping people feed their families during a key period of child development,” WIC Program Manager Tina Fearneyhough said in the announcement.
Participants can now take easy-to-use benefit cards to local stores to get foods at no cost. Some WIC families also are eligible for infant formula benefits.
“We now offer virtual appointments to our WIC participants if needed or requested and have developed consistent digital resources our staff can use to help WIC families,” Fearneyhough said. “Later this year we will offer new cards with enhanced, user-friendly technology and we think participants will like the upgrade.”
Wyoming WIC serves families with incomes up to 185% of the federal poverty income guidelines.
“Our income guidelines are adjusted each year,” Fearneyhough said. “Our new guidelines may help a few more families to be eligible for WIC benefits.”
New qualifying income guidelines for WIC are as follows:
- One person family: $27,861/year or $2,322/month
- Two person family: $37,814/year or $3,152/month
- Three person family: $47,767/year or $3,981/month
- Four person family: $57,720/year or $4,810/month
- Five person family: $67,673/year or $5,640/month
Families already using SNAP, TANF or Wyoming Medicaid benefits also qualify for WIC. Wyoming residents can apply for WIC benefits at https://health.wyo.gov/publichealth/wic/apply-for-wic/. WIC is not just for moms; all caregivers of young children are welcome to apply, including dads, foster parents, guardians, grandparents and step-parents.
