How to apply for Idaho WIC

View the steps to apply for the Idaho WIC program. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare 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 Idaho WIC office for assistance.

WIC Prescreening

Before you start the Idaho 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 Idaho WIC program provides:

Nutrition Education
At each WIC visit, nutrition information, like feeding families, saving money on food, or ideas for healthy snacks is made available to participants.

Breastfeeding Information and Support
WIC offers encouragement and education on the benefits of breastfeeding and how to breastfeed for participants who are pregnant, breastfeeding or mothers of infants. When needed, breast pumps may be provided to support continued breastfeeding.

Supplemental Foods
WIC participants are given monthly checks for nutritious foods intended to supplement a person's diet.

Health Referrals
Idaho WIC participants are told about other health care services available to them in the community.

Idaho WIC Eligibility

The following people are eligible for the Idaho WIC program:

  • Pregnant women
  • Breastfeeding women
  • Women who had a baby within the last six months
  • Parents, step-parents, guardians, and foster parents of infants and children up to their 5th birthday

Applying for WIC in Idaho

To start the application process for Idaho WIC, you need to call your local WIC clinic and schedule an appointment. You will also need to meet the Idaho WIC Income Guidelines.

What you need for your appointment

You need to bring the following information with you to your appointment:

  • Each person who is applying for WIC
  • Identification for you and your children
  • Proof of where you live
  • Immunization records for your children
  • If your infant or child uses diapers, bring an extra diaper
  • Confirmation of your pregnancy, if you are expecting
  • Proof of income for your entire household

If you have questions, or need to reschedule your appointment, then contact your local WIC clinic. During this appointment, the WIC staff will conduct a health screening for all family members applying. This includes a finger stick blood test to check iron status, measuring height and weight, and asking you some questions about your health and nutrition. They will also review your income, residency and identification information with you.

At the end of this appointment you will be told if you and your children are eligible for Idaho WIC services. To save you time, before your appointment, answer the questions on the application form. Please be on time or early. If you are late, your appointment may be rescheduled for another day.

Idaho eWIC System

Idaho will be rolling out with the new eWIC system. This will replace your paper checks or vouchers with a Idaho WIC EBT (Electronic benefit transfer) card. When you are purchasing WIC approved foods at your local grocery store, you would hand the cashier your Idaho WIC EBT card and they will swipe it like a debit or credit card. The amount will then be deducted from your WIC balance.

Also, each month instead of having to go to your local WIC clinic to pick up your vouchers or checks, your card will be automatically refilled electronically each month. For more information about the Idaho eWIC program, call your local WIC clinic.

How long can I be on WIC?

Idaho 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 ID 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 Idaho 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 Idaho 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 ID 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 Idaho 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 ID 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.