The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program has increased income guidelines, allowing more families to participate in the free nutrition education program, Maternal and Family Health Services announced Wednesday.
As of July 1, a family of four can earn up to $59,478 annually and qualify for WIC. For a family of three, the income limit is $49,303 to qualify, and a family of two can earn up to $39,128 and qualify for nutrition assistance, according to the new guidelines.
For each additional family member, add $10,175 to the income limit amount.
WIC provides participants with supplemental healthy foods, which contain vital nutrients essential for healthy development during critical growth periods, such as pregnancy, infancy and early childhood.
The program is open to pregnant women, women who are breastfeeding a baby under 1 year of age and women who have had a baby in the past six months; the parents, step-parents, guardians and foster parents of children under age 5 also can apply for their children. Many working families qualify for WIC.
Households with incomes at or below 185% of the federal poverty income level are income eligible.
The WIC Nutrition Program is funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and provides nutrition education and access to healthy foods for pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, as well as infants and children under the age of 5. To qualify, participants must meet the income guidelines, have a nutritional or medical need and live in Pennsylvania.
WIC is the nation’s premier public health and nutrition education program with an overall goal to influence lifetime nutrition through positive health behaviors.
In addition to the eWIC card which can be used to purchase nutritious foods, WIC participants receive nutrition education, breastfeeding support, immunization record checks, iron deficiency screening, farmers’ market vouchers and referrals for other health and social services.
For more information or to apply for WIC, visit www.mfhs.org, or call 570-273-1288.