How to apply for Connecticut WIC
View the steps to apply for the Connecticut WIC program. The Connecticut Department of Public Health 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 Connecticut WIC office for assistance.
WIC Prescreening
Before you start the Connecticut 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.
What does the WIC program offer
For qualified participants, Connecticut WIC benefits provide:
- Individual time to speak with a nutritionist or trained professional about your diet or your child's diet
- Breastfeeding support and information
- Opportunity to meet and talk to other moms with young children
- Referrals to health care and other social service programs
- An eWIC card to buy healthy food for you or your children
Connecticut WIC Eligibility
People who are eligible for Connecticut WIC benefits are:
- Pregnant women
Through pregnancy and up to 6 weeks after birth or after pregnancy ends - Breastfeeding women
Up to infant's 1st birthday - Non-breastfeeding postpartum women
Up to 6 months after the birth of an infant or after pregnancy ends - Infants
Up to 1st birthday. WIC serves 45 percent of all infants born in the United States - Children
Up to their 5th birthday. Fathers, grandparents, foster parents or other guardians may apply for WIC for their children
To be eligible for the program you must meet the Connecticut WIC Income Guidelines, which is set at or below 185% of the federal poverty income limit. WIC can count an unborn infant as a household member unless it is against your beliefs to do so.
The WIC staff must complete a nutrition assessment. The nutritionist will discuss you and your families eating habits, overall health and any other additional questions about your family's health and or nutrition goals.
You must live in the state of Connecticut, though you do not need to be a US citizen. WIC does not require you provide proof of citizenship or alien status. Participating in the Connecticut WIC program will not affect your immigration or naturalization status.
Please note, if anyone applying for benefits are currently receiving other benefits such as SNAP, TFA or from HUSKY are automatically income-eligible for the Connecticut WIC program. A person who documents that he/she is a member of a family that contains a TFA recipient or that contains a pregnant woman or an infant who receives HUSKY/Medicaid shall also be determined adjunctively income eligible for WIC.
Apply for WIC in Connecticut
To start the application process for the CT WIC program, you will need to call your local WIC clinic that serves your area and schedule an appointment.
What you need for your appointment
When applying for the CT WIC Program, you will need to bring the following items to your WIC certification appointment. The staff can tell you which forms or papers you should bring to show your income, identity and residence.
- Proof of Income
If you have no income or no proof of your income, you can fill out a form stating you have no income. However, within one month you must show proof of income or proof that you do not have income so you can still apply for WIC services - Proof of Identity
If you do not have any form of identification, WIC staff will tell you what to do so you can still apply for WIC services - Proof of Residence
If you do not have proof of residence or are homeless, WIC staff will tell you what to do so you can still apply for WIC services
The person who is applying for Connecticut WIC benefits must be at the appointment. If the WIC services are for a child, the child must be there. If an applicant is seriously ill or in the hospital, the applicant may not have to be at the appointment. If you have questions, contact your local WIC clinic for more information.
The first WIC visit is called the "WIC certification" visit. At this visit, the person applying for the Connecticut WIC Program has her eligibility requirements reviewed by WIC staff. All of the eligibility requirements must be met to be on WIC. If a person meets all the Connecticut WIC program requirements, he or she qualifies for the program.
A "certification period" is the amount of time a WIC participant is eligible or allowed to receive WIC benefits. The first WIC visit can take from 1-2 hours. The next appointments you have for WIC usually takes between 20 minutes to 1 hour. Depending on the person, the next appointment may be in 1, 2 or 3 month.
Connecticut WIC EBT
The state has now moved over to the new eWIC system. It is safer, easier and a lot more convenient to use to purchase WIC approved foods. You are given a WIC EBT (Electronic benefit transfer) card that acts like a debit card. Now at check out, you'll be able to swipe your eWIC Card the same way that you would with a debit or credit card. All of the foods for your whole family will be together on one card.
Once the cashier swipes your Connecticut EBT WIC card at checkout, it will automatically deduct the amount from your WIC balance. The cashier will give you a receipt which will show your remaining balance and the date your benefits will expire.
Each month, instead of having to go down to your local WIC clinic to pick up your paper vouchers or checks, WIC will electronically refill your balance on your WIC EBT card. To check the balance on your WIC EBT card:
- Check your last store receipt
- See a grocery store cashier or go to the Customer Service Desk for a print out of your current balance
- Call the toll-free number on the back of your eWIC card for balance inquiry
- Visit ConnectEBT.com to view and print your balance
What should I do if my card is lost or stolen?
Call your Connecticut WIC office right away. They will stop anyone from using your food benefits and help you get a new card.
How long can I be on WIC?
Connecticut 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 CT 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 Connecticut 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 Connecticut 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 CT 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 Connecticut 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 CT 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.
