Babies, young children, and pregnant or new mothers are at a nutritionally vulnerable stage of life with unique nutritional needs that must be met for optimal health. Unfortunately, not everyone living in the United States can access enough healthy food, meaning low-income mothers and their children are particularly at-risk of inadequate physical and mental health due to poor nutritional status. 

In the United States, if you live below a certain income level, you are usually entitled to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, or food stamps. New mothers and their children are offered a special food program: the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children–also known as WIC. 

Studies have shown that there are many health benefits for WIC recipients, such as reducing premature births, low or very low birth-weight babies, fetal and infant deaths, and low-iron anemia. Women who access WIC experience increased access to prenatal care in early pregnancy, increased consumption of key nutrients (iron, protein, calcium, and vitamins A and C), better diet quality, and increased access to regular health care. 

Despite these health benefits, not everyone who is eligible for this government food program receives benefits. This article will explain what WIC is, who accesses WIC benefits, and who is (or isn’t) actually getting these benefits. 

What is WIC? 

So, what is WIC? WIC programs usually provide nutritious food packages that include foods like milk, cereal, cheese, eggs, bread, and vouchers to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables. If you receive WIC benefits, you can also go to healthy eating classes, access health care and social service referrals, and get breastfeeding support. These additional services are offered at places like community centers, schools, public housing sites, and county health departments. 

When was WIC Established? And Why? 

In 1972, WIC started as a 2-year pilot program, meaning the government was trying it out. Around this time, there was growing awareness of malnutrition among mothers and young children living in poverty. By 1975, WIC became a permanent program by legislation P.L. 94-105. 

How Do You Get WIC Benefits? Am I Eligible?

To get WIC benefits, you must apply and meet certain eligibility requirements, which include categorical, residential, income, and nutrition risk requirements. What does this mean? 

1. Categorical: categories of WIC recipients include women who are pregnant, postpartum, or breastfeeding; infants up to age 1; and children up to age 5.
2. Residential: You also must apply for WIC benefits in your home state.
3. Income: Your household income must be below a standard set by your state. This income standard will be between 100% and 185% of the federal poverty income guidelines, which depends on the number of people per household. For example, in 2024, the federal poverty income guideline is $15,060 for a 1-person household, $31,200 for a 4-person household, and $41,960 for a 6-person household.
4. Nutrition Risk Requirement: Nutrition risk refers to medical or dietary conditions you have, such as a history of pregnancy issues, poor diet, or being underweight. Your risk is assessed by a healthcare provider. 

Not Everyone Who is Eligible is Accessing WIC and More Funding is Needed

A recent report released by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service showed that in 2021, around 12 million mothers, babies, and young children were eligible for WIC but only about 6 million participated. Newer data shows that WIC participation is going up in most states, though supporting WIC growth will require enough funding. 

WIC has been a bipartisan commitment fully funded by Congress for the past 25 years. The Biden-Harris administration has requested that Congress fully fund WIC for 2024, but we are still awaiting Congressional action, putting millions of mothers, babies, and children who rely on WIC at risk. If Congress funds WIC at the current level, a resulting $1 billion deficiency would result. This translates to a loss of 1.5 months of benefits for all program recipients, or a loss of six months of benefits to all pregnant women and babies receiving WIC. 

So how do more women and children access WIC? It’s complex and challenging. Improvements can happen at the national or local level. Last year, the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service announced grant opportunities funded by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to continue modernizing WIC to improve experiences for participants and reach more eligible children and mothers. 

These grants will go to state and local agencies, community organizations, or other nonprofits who can help. Putting grants in the hands of local and state organizations means public health professionals who understand the lives of mothers and children in their area will have the power to improve WIC access. 

Helpful links if you and your children need SNAP or WIC: 

– General information about WIC 

– WIC Eligibility Requirements 

– Apply to receive SNAP in your state

– US Department of Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines for 2024

References

[1] WIC eligibility Requirements | Food and Nutrition Service. (2023, April 4). Retrieved January 27, 2024, from https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/wic-eligibility-requirements 

[2] WIC is Vital – but Vastly Underutilized, Research Finds. (2023, November 3). USDA. https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2023/11/03/wic-vital-vastly-underutilized-resear ch-finds#:~:text=The%20just%20released%20study%20reports,who%20were%20eligible% 20actually%20participated 

[3] USDA continues to modernize, innovate WIC program to improve Maternal, child health | Food and Nutrition Service. (2023, April 18). Retrieved January 27, 2024, from https://www.fns.usda.gov/news-item/fns-008.23 

[4] WIC Program Overview and History. (n.d.). National WIC Association.