WIC Program: 225-0213
What is WIC
WIC is the non-emergency Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, or WIC for short. If you qualify for WIC, you can receive food benefits (redeemable at grocery stores for certain nutritious foods), nutrition education and counseling, breastfeeding promotion and support, and health care referrals at no cost. WIC services are available to pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, and infants and children under the age of 5 years old.
How do I qualify for WIC?
To participate you must be pregnant, postpartum (up to six months after delivery), breastfeeding (up to one year after delivery), or have a child under the age of 5 years old.
Household Income: Visit our Income Guide Table
Nutritional Need: Assessed at your First Appointment - could be a variety of deficiencies.
County Residence: In our case, you must live in Bexar County or surrounding areas to receive WIC Services. You may attend any clinic you wish to attend. Visit our clinic locator to find the clinic most convenient for you.
How do I enroll?
Enrolling in your local WIC Program is really simple. Here is how:
1. Call your local WIC Clinic to make an appointment. (To see which clinic is closest to you, call 225-1870 or visit the clinic locator. )
2. When you call the clinic, they will set your appointment time and date and tell you what documents to bring to your first appointment.
Examples:
A. Identification (Driver's License, Military ID, Student ID)
B. Proof of Income (Check Stub from last 60 Days, Medicaid Letter)
C. Proof of Residency (Utility Bill, Rent Receipt, Lease Agreement)
D. If you are enrolling your child, bring him/her to the appointment.
What do I Get at WIC?
Food Benefits for WIC Foods.
WIC foods are specifically selected for their high nutritional value as well as for their relatively low cost. These foods include: milk, cereals, eggs, peanut butter, cheese, juices, beans, and infant formula. Read more...
What is new for WIC participants?
In order to expedite their shopping experience, a new EBT card will be given to participants. The EBT card is replacing the paper vouchers and participants will be able to buy WIC foods on an as needed basis, provided they have a benefits balance.
When will it start?
The official rollout date is June 30. Participants are encouraged to test their cards as soon as they receive it.
How will participants benefit from this?
With the new EBT card, WIC participants will still receive the benefits each month which they can use at grocery stores to buy nutritious foods. WIC foods include iron-fortified infant formula and infant cereal, iron-fortified adult cereal, vitamin C–rich fruit and vegetable juice, milk, eggs, cheese, beans, and peanut butter. Different food packages are issued to different clients. For example, mothers who are totally breastfeeding their babies without formula are issued tuna and carrots in addition to other foods.
How does EBT work?
For clients, the process itself is simple. The Lone Star card is scanned/swiped for payment the same way that a commercial card is scanned/swiped. The client enters his or her personal identification number (PIN), which protects the card from use by unauthorized people. The transaction is carried from the point-of-sale (POS) device through a third-party processor's network to the EBT host system. The EBT system then locates that client's benefits and removes an amount equal to the purchase amount from further access. A response authorizing the purchase is generated and returned in a matter of seconds.
The purchase amount is processed that night, transferring funds from federal and state sources to the third-party processors. The processors then transmit payment to the individual retailers. Quite an improvement over the paper system, under which payments could take up to six weeks to process!
EBT operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with its primary goal remaining that of consistent, rapid issuance and safe, simple, continuous access to benefits for Texas citizens.
WIC Nondiscrimination Statement
In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.
To file a complaint of discrimination, write to:
USDA Director, Office of Civil Rights
Whitten Building, Room 326-W
1400 Independence Ave. SW
Washington, DC 20250-9410
Or call: (202) 720-5964 (Voice & TDD)
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. You also may call the following toll-free number for assistance: (800) 942-3678. See also disclaimer for the City of San Antonio web portal.
