The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, Office of Nutrition Services has announced new income eligibility guidelines from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). According to a press release, the new guidelines indicate a family of four can earn $51,338 and qualify for WIC benefits, 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. “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. 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 as follows (household size, gross income weekly, gross income monthly and gross income yearly): one, $484, $2,096, $25,142; two, $652, $2,823, $33,874; three, $820, $3,551, $42,606; four, $988, $4,279, $51,338; for each additional family member $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.
