How to apply for American Samoa WIC
View the steps to apply for the American Samoa WIC program. The American Samoa Government administrates WIC in the state including the application process. View the steps below to see if you qualify, and if so, what you need to do to apply. If you still have questions or issues about the application process, you can contact the American Samoa WIC office for assistance.
WIC Prescreening
Before you start the American Samoa WIC application process, you can use the online prescreening tool to see if you qualify. Please note, this tool is not considered an application. You will still need to follow the application process for this state. It takes about 15 minutes to complete the prescreening tool.
American Samoa WIC Eligibility
The criteria to be eligible for the American Samoa WIC program is listed below:
- Category Requirement
Pregnant, Breastfeeding, or Postpartum women, Infants, Children up to five years of age - Residence Requirement
An applicant must live in American Samoa to be eligible for WIC in American Samoa - Income Requirement
An applicant must be at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. This number is based on household size. View the American Samoa WIC Income Guidelines - Nutrition Risk Requirement
An applicant must have a medical/nutritional risk that can be improved by WIC nutritional services
Applying for WIC
To start the American Samoa WIC application process you need to call one of these numbers listed below and schedule an appointment:
| Clinic | Phone Number |
|---|---|
| Main Clinic | 684-633-2610 |
| Amouli Clinic | 684-622-7534 |
| Leone Clinic | 684-688-7434 |
| Tafuna Clinic | 684-699-2600 |
| Ofu Clinic | 684-655-1103 |
| Tau Clinic | 684-677-3477/3474 |
What you need for your appointment
You need to bring the following information with you to your first appointment listed below:
- Proof of income
- Proof of residence or identity
- Bring your baby or children who need WIC
- Bring your baby's or children's immunization shot records or birth certificates
What if I forget to bring my documentation?
If you did not bring all the required documentation to your appointment, then they will only issue you a months worth of WIC checks. This will also be noted in your American Samoa WIC ID folder as a reminder to bring the required documents to your next appointment.
How to check American Samoa WIC EBT card balance
Below are the different ways you can check the current balance on your WIC EBT Card:
- Ask the staff at the American Samoa WIC clinic to print your benefit
- Ask any authorized WIC retailer to print from the POS device
- Log into your account online at EBTEdge.com
How long can I be on WIC?
American Samoa WIC is considered to be a short-term program. A person receiving benefits "graduates" once their certification period ends. The certification period is the length of time a person is eligible to receive AS WIC benefits. Depending on the applicant's condition, either pregnant, postpartum, breastfeeding, or an infant/child, an eligible person will usually receive these benefits for up to 6 months to a year. Once they have reached the end of that time, they must apply for American Samoa WIC again if they want to continue using it.
WIC waiting list
In some cases, if the state agency does not have enough money to serve everyone who needs WIC, they must keep a list called a waiting list. This contains a list of individuals who want to apply for the American Samoa WIC program and are likely to be served. The state agency will then use a special system, called a Priority System, that will allow them to determine who is eligible to receive AS WIC benefits next once more people can be served.
The reason for this priority system is to make sure that services and benefits are available right away to participants who need it most, which are people with serious health conditions such as anemia (low blood levels), history of pregnancy problems or being underweight.
Planning to move
Anyone currently on American Samoa WIC that is planning to move, including out of state, can continue receiving WIC benefits until their certification period expires. In order to do that, they must provide proof that they are receiving benefits when they move to their new location. In most cases the staff will provide you with a special card called the Verification of Certification Card (VOC).
To obtain proof, contact your current AS WIC clinic to let them know your plans. When you move, you will need to call your local WIC clinic near your new location and schedule an appointment so you can show them the proof. Make sure to take the special card with you to the appointment to show proof.
