While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the LIHEAP program and compiled a guide and the following answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Table of Contents
The Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides federal grants to states for supplemental foods, health care referrals and support, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk. The WIC program for Tribal Nations is administered through the US Department of Agriculture.
Learn more about WIC for Tribal Nations on the National WIC Association's WIC page here.
WIC assists women and children by providing nutrition assistance and health support. If you are eligible for WIC, you will be able to access the following services:
Monthly nutrition assistance benefits are placed on an eWIC card, mailed as a check or deposited into a participant's account. The allotments are issued to eligible participants by the WIC office after they are approved for the program.
To learn more about WIC services, click here.
After you are accepted into the WIC program, you will be assigned a specific food package category by the Tribal Nations Department of Agriculture. The food package you will be assigned is dependent on:
For women and children, each food package comes with a set list of covered food items and the maximum amount of the food item that will be covered by the program (in ounces or fluid ounces) each month. Items included in food packages for women and children are:
Infant food packages are provided in the same level of detail but vary based on the age of the infant and how they are fed (breastfed vs. formula fed). Covered food items based on these factors include:
Learn more about WIC Food Packages and Maximum Monthly Allowances here.
To be eligible for WIC for Tribal Nations, you must meet the following requirements:
The WIC income limits are based on the number of members in your household and are categorized by time period. Gross income refers to the total earnings before any taxes are imposed. Household income must be below weekly, monthly, and annual income limits. They are as follows.
| Household Members | Gross Income/Week | Gross Income/Month | Gross Income/Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $484 | $2,096 | $25,142 |
| 2 | $652 | $2,823 | $33,874 |
| 3 | $820 | $3,551 | $42,606 |
| 4 | $988 | $4,279 | $51,338 |
Note that pregnant women count as two people within a household. For each additional person in your household, add $8,732 per year to determine your income limit.
For more information about WIC eligibility, visit the US Department of Agriculture page here.
To test your eligibility for WIC benefits, use the WIC Prescreening Tool here. Using the WIC Prescreening Tool is not an application.
To apply for WIC for Tribal Nations, complete the following three steps:
Learn if you may be eligible for WIC benefits by using the WIC Prescreening Tool here.
Learn what documents and information you need by calling your local provider. Contact information for participating tribes can be found here. Be sure to filter the information by only checking the box next to the "Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children."
You must schedule a WIC certification appointment at a WIC clinic to apply. To set up an appointment by phone, call your local WIC clinic. Click here to find the contact information for your Tribe’s WIC provider and ask them to assist you in finding the clinic closest to you.
Your eligibility for WIC benefits will be verified during your appointment.
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the Tribal Nations office that corresponds to your tribe. You can find the toll free number of your designated WIC office using the search tool provided here.
The WIC certification appointment is the applicant's first appointment at a WIC clinic and is used to determine their eligibility for benefits. Applicants meet with a WIC representative and present all the necessary documents to apply for assistance.
Applicants should have the following items on hand for their WIC appointment:
All applicants, including the mother and all eligible children, must be present at the appointment.
After providing the necessary documentation, trained staff at the WIC clinic will conduct a health exam on each of the applicants to determine if they are at medical or nutritional risk. The assessment will include a blood test, a health questionnaire and measurements of their height and weight.
For more information on what to bring to your WIC appointment, call your local WIC clinic. Find a list of contact information for tribal WIC clinics here.
If you apply for WIC for Tribal Nations, your eligibility will be determined during your certification appointment at the WIC clinic. You will not need to wait to find out if your application is approved.
However, if your location does not have sufficient funds to serve all eligible applicants, you may be put on a waiting list to receive benefits. In this situation, applicants will receive benefits based on a priority system that gives those in most need earlier access to benefits.
Learn more about the Waiting List here.
Learn more about the WIC Eligibility Priority System here.
After you set up your WIC appointment and apply for benefits at a local WIC clinic, your eligibility will be determined by the representative who processes your application.
If you are approved for benefits, you will receive your check or eWIC card in the mail within 14 days of being approved. You can use these monetary benefits to purchase WIC-approved foods. For information on what foods you can purchase with your WIC benefits, click here.
You will also be able to access WIC clinic support programs right away, including:
Learn more information about WIC benefits and what to expect from the program on the WIC About page here.
If you do not agree with the benefit decision given to you by the WIC office, you can appeal your decision within 30 days of receiving your determination letter.
To file an appeal, contact your WIC office. You will need to speak with a representative and tell them why you are appealing your determination. You will also need to bring your benefit determination letter and evidence that supports your appeal. Find a list of contact information for tribal WIC clinics here.
You may need to provide a written statement that includes the following information:
For help with obtaining WIC benefits, or for any further questions about the program, call the toll free number of your local WIC tribal office using the search tool here.
You can also visit or call a local WIC clinic for further assistance. Find your nearest location and contact information here.
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to provide you useful information on the process to help you get the benefits you need.
Our free WIC Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view or download our free guide here.
Table of Contents
The Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides federal grants to states for supplemental foods, health care referrals and support, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk. The WIC program for Tribal Nations is administered through the US Department of Agriculture.
To apply for WIC for Tribal Nations, complete the following three steps:
Learn if you may be eligible for WIC benefits by using the WIC Prescreening Tool here.
Learn what documents and information you need by calling your local provider. Contact information for participating tribes can be found here. Be sure to filter the information by only checking the box next to the "Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children."
You must schedule a WIC certification appointment at a WIC clinic to apply. To set up an appointment by phone, call your local WIC clinic. Click here to find the contact information for your Tribe’s WIC provider and ask them to assist you in finding the clinic closest to you.
Your eligibility for WIC benefits will be verified during your appointment.
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact the Tribal Nations office that corresponds to your tribe. You can find the toll free number of your designated WIC office here.
The WIC certification appointment is the applicant's first appointment at a WIC clinic and is used to determine their eligibility for benefits. Applicants meet with a WIC representative and present all the necessary documents to apply for assistance.
Applicants should have the following items on hand for their WIC appointment:
All applicants, including the mother and all eligible children, must be present at the appointment.
After providing the necessary documentation, trained staff at the WIC clinic will conduct a health exam on each of the applicants to determine if they are at medical or nutritional risk. The assessment will include a blood test, a health questionnaire and measurements of their height and weight.
For more information on what to bring to your WIC appointment, call your local WIC clinic here.
If you apply for WIC for Tribal Nations, your eligibility will be determined during your certification appointment at the WIC clinic. You will not need to wait to find out if your application is approved.
However, if your location does not have sufficient funds to serve all eligible applicants, you may be put on a waiting list to receive benefits. In this situation, applicants will receive benefits based on a priority system that gives those in most need earlier access to benefits.
Learn more about the Waiting List here.
Learn more about the WIC Eligibility Priority System here.
After you set up your WIC appointment and apply for benefits at a local WIC clinic, your eligibility will be determined by the representative who processes your application.
If you are approved for benefits, you should receive your check or eWIC card in the mail within roughly 14 days of being approved. You can use these monetary benefits to purchase WIC-approved foods. For information on what foods you can purchase with your WIC benefits, click here.
You will also be able to access WIC clinic support programs right away, including:
Learn more information about WIC benefits and what to expect from the program on the WIC About page here.
If you do not agree with the benefit decision given to you by the WIC office, you can appeal your decision within 30 days of receiving your determination letter.
To file an appeal, contact your WIC office. You will need to speak with a representative and tell them why you are appealing your determination. You will also need to bring your benefit determination letter and evidence that supports your appeal. Find your nearest location here.
You may need to provide a written statement that includes the following information:
For help with obtaining WIC benefits, or for any further questions about the program, call the toll free number of your local WIC tribal office here.
You can also visit or call a local WIC clinic for further assistance. Find your nearest location and contact information here.
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and compiled a guide and the following answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free WIC Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view or download our free guide here.