What does WIC stand for?

WIC stands for women, infants, and children, but it’s a special benefit program that isn’t just available to moms—anyone raising children under five, including dads, grandparents, and foster parents, can receive support from WIC, along with low-income pregnant people.

If you already get TANF, Medicaid or SNAP and you’re a caregiver or newly pregnant, you probably qualify for help through WIC too.

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What is WIC?#what-is-wic

WIC is a supplemental nutrition program designed to help low-income parents and caregivers of infants and children under five. WIC recipients can get financial help for food, nutritional information, breastfeeding support, and other benefits.

WIC was created in 1972 as a short-term intervention program designed to improve the health of pregnant individuals, infants, and children in response to growing concern over malnutrition. Learn more about WIC here.

Is WIC the same as SNAP?#is-wic-the-same-as-snap

No, although the two programs are similar, and many people get both, WIC and SNAP aren’t the same.

Both WIC and SNAP are supplemental nutritional programs that help provide access to food for low income individuals and families, but there are some significant differences between them.

• WIC is designed for pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding individuals, along with caregivers to infants and children under five
• WIC covers very specific foods as part of a “food package” that may include fruits, vegetables, dairy, whole grain foods like bread, tortillas, and pasta, proteins like eggs, beans, and peanut butter, cereal, infant formula, and baby food
• WIC provides specific amounts and types of WIC approved foods instead of a dollar amount, while SNAP provides a monthly dollar amount for groceries, with minimal restrictions on what you can purchase
• SNAP is available to anyone who meets certain income and resource requirements, whether or not they have children