How to Apply for WIC in Texas

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: November 24, 2021 References

If you live in Texas and don't feel like you make enough money to provide healthy meals for your family, the WIC program might be able to help you. "WIC" stands for "Women, Infants, and Children," and that's who is primarily eligible. If you or your children qualify, you'll get free healthy foods each month, as well as education, training, and access to resources that will help you and your family live more healthy and fulfilling lives.^{[1]
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Part 1

Part 1 of 3:
Eligibility for WIC Benefits in Texas

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Use the online tool to easily check your eligibility. Go to https://texaswic.org/apply and scroll down to the purple box towards the bottom of the page, then click the white button that says "start now." You'll be asked questions that will help determine if you're potentially eligible for WIC.^{[2]
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- Even though an in-person appointment is required to officially confirm your eligibility and get your benefits set up, the screening process helps you figure out if it's worth it for you to schedule that appointment.
- WIC is a federal program, but you have to apply in the state where you live. You don't have to be a US citizen, but to apply in Texas, you have to live in Texas. The online tool won't let you continue with the eligibility questions if you say that you live in another state.^{[3]
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- This online tool doesn't guarantee that you'll receive benefits, or even that you'll ultimately be eligible. You won't find that out until your first appointment after meeting with a nurse or nutritionist.
2
Count the number of eligible people in your household. You are potentially eligible for WIC if you're pregnant, breastfeeding, or gave birth to a child within the last 6 months. All children under 5 years of age are also potentially eligible.^{[4]
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- If you're pregnant, the unborn child counts as an additional family member. So, for example, if you are pregnant with 2 children, there are 4 members of your household.
- All children are eligible up until their fifth birthday. Infants under 1 year of age qualify in a separate category because their nutritional needs are different and they are given priority over older kids.^{[5]
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- If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, you might be eligible for WIC yourself. But your children might be eligible even if you're not! For example, if you're a single father with custody of 2 kids under 5 years old, you can apply for WIC on behalf of those kids. Grandparents, legal guardians, or foster parents can also apply for WIC benefits on behalf of eligible kids in their custody.^{[6]
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3
Add up your monthly income from all sources. To meet the income requirement, your maximum monthly income is $1,968, plus an additional $690 for each other member of your household. This includes income received from all sources, such as wage earnings, benefits, child support, and alimony. ^{[7]
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- For example, if you're pregnant and have 2 children, you would have a household of 4. That means you would be eligible provided your monthly income from all sources is $4,040 or less.
- The WIC caseworker who evaluates your case will determine your income based on the most recent full month. If that month isn't typical for you, let them know so they can take that into account.
- If you're on public assistance, you automatically meet the income requirement, so you don't have to worry about this. Public assistance includes Medicaid, SNAP (food stamps), or TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families).
- You have to be currently receiving benefits when you apply for WIC to automatically meet the income requirement. If you previously received them but no longer do, you'd still have to meet the separate income requirement.^{[8]
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Talk to your doctor about nutrition risk. Even if you meet all the other eligibility requirements, you and your children can only get WIC benefits if you're deemed to be "at nutrition risk." This isn't really something you can determine on your own, but your doctor can help.^{[9]
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- There are 2 categories of nutrition risk: medically based and dietary based. Medically based nutrition risk is a result of a specific medical diagnosis. Dietary based nutrition risk, on the other hand, can simply mean that you don't have the time or money to provide healthy meals for your family.^{[10]
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- This final requirement is the reason you can only apply for WIC in person. The program requires a nurse or nutritionist to do a health screening on everyone, even if you already have a referral from your doctor.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:
Documenting Your Case for WIC in Texas

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Get valid proof of identity for everyone applying. For you, this is usually a government-issued photo ID, such as your driver's license or state ID card. You could also use your birth certificate, Social Security card, or immigration papers. For your children, you'll typically need their birth certificates or a hospital birth record.^{[11]
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- If you're pregnant, you'll need a medical record or letter from your doctor confirming your pregnancy. That serves as proof of identity for your unborn child.
- You'll also need an immunization record for each child who's on your application.
2
Make a copy of your benefit statement if you're on public assistance. At your appointment, the caseworker will need to confirm that your benefits account is current. A copy of your benefit statement can help speed up the process.^{[12]
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- You can also bring your Texas Benefits card or Medicaid card and the WIC caseworker can look up your account that way.
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Collect copies of documents for all sources of income for a month. This typically includes pay stubs and benefit statements. If you have a friend or family member who is providing your household with money, they can document this with a letter that includes their full name, address, and phone number.^{[13]
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- Texas also requires you to fill out an income questionnaire form. You can download this form at https://www.hhs.texas.gov/sites/default/files/documents/doing-business-with-hhs/provider-portal/wic/general/wic35-3wic-income-questionnaire.pdf, or you can fill it out when you get to your appointment.
- Keep in mind this is your entire household's income, so if someone earns money but isn't on the application, you still need documentation of their income as well. For example, if you're married, you need documentation of your spouse's income, even if they're not listed on your application.
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Use a utility bill or bank statement for proof of residence. All you need to prove your residence is a piece of mail with your name and address printed on them. If you don't have a recent utility bill or bank statement available, you can use a mortgage statement or copy of your lease agreement.^{[14]
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- In a pinch, virtually any piece of mail with your name and address printed on them will work. It just has to be something sent by a company or organization and addressed to you personally. Something that says "or current resident" doesn't work, because it doesn't prove you still live there.
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Ask your doctor to complete a referral if you have a medical condition. If you have a serious medical condition or your doctor considers you at high risk, they might fill out a form to refer you to WIC. They can also write a letter for you to present to the caseworker stating they believe you or your children are at nutrition risk.^{[15]
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- Medical records that show your diagnosis of a medical condition might also provide documentation that you or your children are at nutrition risk.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:
Attending Your First WIC Appointment in Texas

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Call or visit your local WIC agency to set up an appointment. Go to https://find.texaswic.org/?wicType=Clinic&lge=a8Jwz9Jlia and enter your location information to get the phone number and address of the WIC agency closest to you. Call the number during regular business hours and say you want to set up your first appointment for WIC.^{[16]
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- If you walk into a WIC agency, they won't see you that day—you'll have to make an appointment and get your documents together. But you can still make an appointment in person if you happen to be in the neighborhood.
- You can also call 1-800-WIC-FORU (1-800-942-3678) Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tell them you want to set up an appointment for WIC and they'll give you the phone number and address of the WIC agency closest to you.
2
Bring all of your children with you to your appointment. Everyone who applies for WIC needs a health screening before they can be approved for benefits. If you have small children, you might want to bring someone along with you to help watch them.^{[17]
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- For example, if you have older children, you might bring them along to help watch the younger ones, even though they aren't eligible for WIC benefits themselves.
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Go over your documents with a caseworker. A WIC caseworker will sit down with you and ask for your documents so they can confirm that you meet the eligibility requirements. It helps if you organize everything before you go so you can find what you need easily.^{[18]
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- If you don't have all the documents you need, call the WIC agency before your appointment and a caseworker will help you. Not having the right documentation could delay your approval for benefits.
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Meet with a nurse or nutritionist for your health screening. The nurse or nutritionist will take your height and weight and do a simple finger-stick to get a drop of blood to test for anemia. Then, they'll talk to you about your family's health, nutrition, and general eating habits.^{[19]
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- All of your kids will have the same health screening, although the nurse or nutritionist is going to rely primarily on you to get information about your family's eating habits.
- Be open and honest with the nurse or nutritionist—they're there to help you and make sure your family's nutritional needs are met.
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See a caseworker for counseling to learn about available benefits. At the end of your first appointment, the caseworker will let you know if you or your children are eligible for WIC. If you are, your benefits will start immediately! They'll get a card set up for you and give you some general information about the program, as well as answer any questions you might have.^{[20]
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- If you're eligible for other public assistance that you're not receiving, the caseworker will tell you about those benefits and set you up with referrals so you can get those started as well.
- Keep in mind that even if you're eligible, there might not be WIC benefits available. WIC is a limited resource, and some WIC agencies are at capacity.^{[21]
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Warnings

WIC is not an entitlement benefit, which means there might not be benefits available for you even if you qualify. If your local WIC agency is at maximum capacity, your case will be assigned a priority and placed on a waitlist. Pregnant women and infants with serious medical conditions are given the highest priority.^{[22]
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If you recently moved to Texas and got WIC in another state, that doesn't mean you'll automatically get WIC again in Texas. Even though WIC is a federal program, it's administered by the states and they each have their own requirements.^{[23]
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