Release Date: June 12, 2008
Contact: Christine Patmon, Metro Health Public Relations Manager, 207-8638
WIC Prepares for Rollout of New EBT Card
Wallet-sized card with debit-style functions will expedite purchases
Paper vouchers will be a thing of the past beginning June 30 as the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program rolls out a new eIectronic benefits transfer (EBT) card. The EBT card will eliminate the need for WIC participants to carry multiple paper vouchers; allow the purchase of WIC approved grocery items when needed; help expedite purchases at authorized grocer-vendor stores; and provide stores with quicker reimbursement payments as the benefits are used.
Currently, there are approximately 48,000 area residents participating in Metro Health’s WIC program. They receive monthly benefits for products such as cereal, milk, infant formula, eggs, cheese, beans, and juice.
“This paperless system has been eagerly anticipated for awhile,” said WIC Program Manager Norma Lucia Zuniga. “Not only will it make keeping track of your benefits easier, but it will hopefully erase the stigma many participants feel while trying to purchase the food their families need.”
Participants already in the program are strongly encouraged to keep their scheduled appointments so they can be issued their EBT card beginning June 30. New WIC participants also will receive the card. No appointments will be available June 23 through June 27 as all Metro Health WIC locations will be closed for the final preparation steps of the rollout.
WIC is committed to helping young families with approved products to supplement a good nutrition and develop healthy eating habits. Services include nutritional guidance for healthy weight, breastfeeding support for new mothers, iron deficiency testing for children under the age of five, health care referrals, and other needed assistance.
WIC services are available to pregnant, postpartum (up to six months after delivery), and breastfeeding women (up to one year after delivery), and infants and children under the age of five years old. Participants must meet income guideline requirements. For example, a family of four is eligible if the household income is $39,220 or less.
For more information or to view the income guidelines, visit http://www.sanantonio.gov/health/WIC-main.html or call (210) 225-0213.
