How to apply for Georgia WIC
View the steps to apply for the Georgia WIC program. The Georgia 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 Georgia WIC office for assistance.
WIC Prescreening
Before you start the Georgia 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, the Georgia WIC program provides:
- Special checks to buy healthy foods from WIC authorized vendors
- Information about nutrition and health to help you and your family
- Support and information about breastfeeding your baby
- Help in finding health care and other community services
The objective of the Georgia WIC program is to:
- Increase entry into care for prenatal, infants and children
- Increase infant breastfeeding initiation and duration
- Decrease number of children who are overweight or obese
- Increase nutrition education of participants
- Utilize technology to maximize efficiency
Georgia WIC Eligibility
For qualified participants, the Georgia WIC program is available for:
- Low income pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women
- Low income parent or guardian who is the sole provider of children under age five who are at nutritional risk and who are at or below 185% of the federal poverty level
- Meet the income requirements outlined in the Georgia WIC Income Guidelines
Before applying, you can take the Georgia WIC Eligibility Assessment to see if you qualify for benefits. This online tool is only a preliminary assessment, only local WIC agency staff can determine if you qualify for Georgia WIC benefits.
Applying for WIC in Georgia
To start the application process, contact your local WIC clinic to schedule an appointment, or call 800-228-9173. While setting up your appointment, ask the staff what documents you need to bring with you. At your appointment, the staff will check to see if you and your family qualify.
How long can I be on WIC?
Georgia 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 GA 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 Georgia 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 Georgia 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 GA 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 Georgia 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 GA 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.
