How to apply for Louisiana WIC

View the steps to apply for the Louisiana WIC program. The Louisiana Department of 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 Louisiana WIC office for assistance.

WIC Prescreening

Before you start the Louisiana 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 Louisiana WIC program offers:

• Nutrition Education and Counseling
• Breastfeeding Support and Education
• Childhood Immunizations
• Referrals to other programs including; Medicaid, Family Planning, SNAP, TANF, LaChip
• WIC Foods

Louisiana WIC Eligibility

You might be eligible for LA WIC benefits if you are pregnant or a mom of a child or children under five. You must live in Louisiana and meet the Louisiana WIC Income Guidelines. Please note, if you are enrolled in Medicaid or receive SNAP of TANF benefits you already meet the income guidelines.

Applying for WIC in Louisiana

To get the application process started for Louisiana WIC benefits, you need to call your local WIC clinic and schedule an appointment. If you are enrolling your infant or children, they will need to go to the appointment as well. If you are having any issues finding a WIC clinic near you, please call 800-251-BABY.

What you need for your appointment

During your first visit, the WIC staff will check to make sure you qualify for LA WIC. If so, you will be given your WIC checks/vouchers, nutrition education, and shopping tips. You will also be given assistance with breastfeeding, referrals for other services, counseling, and answers to your questions. You will need to bring the following information with you to your appointment:

Person Applying for WIC
Bring each person who is applying for WIC to the clinic with you on the appointment date. Bring an extra diaper for infants and children who are applying for WIC since they must be weighted with a clean, dry diaper.

Immunization Records
Bring the immunization records for all infants and children applying for WIC, if available.

Proof of Identification
You should bring identification for yourself and for each person who is applying for WIC.

Proof of Residency
You should bring proof of where you live. The document should include your name, physical address, city, state, and zip code. PO boxes are not accepted. The following are acceptable for proof of residency:

• Valid Medicaid Card
• Valid Voter Registration Card
• Current Rent or Mortgage receipt showing address of residence and name of renter
• Current pay stub showing employee address
• Current utility bill (gas, electric, water, phone, etc.)
• State or local document indicating Louisiana residence, i.e., property tax notice
• Processed mail addressed to the participant or parent/caretaker at the physical address
• For migrants or victims of theft, loss or disaster with no proof of residence, a statement written and signed by staff of a social service agency, church, legal aid society, school counselor, or nurse attesting to residence

Proof of Income
Income for all members of the Economic Unit/Household must be provided. If you receive Medicaid, SNAP (Food Stamps), or TANF, bring one of the following:

• Medicaid Letter showing current eligibility or valid Medicaid Card
• SNAP (Food Stamp Program) document showing current eligibility
• TANF (Temporary Aid to Needy Families) document showing current eligibility

If you do not receive Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, the following are accepted:

• Public assistance or welfare payments for the most recent 30 days
• Child support or alimony payments for the most recent 30 days
• Current pay stubs showing gross pay and time frame for the most recent 30 days
• Current Leave and Earnings Statement for military personnel for the most recent 30 days
• Social Security award letter or notice stating current earnings
• Unemployment earning statement for the most recent 30 days
• Retirement, pensions, or annuities payments
• Scholarship letter showing the date and amount awarded
• W-2 forms or income tax return for the most recent calendar year
• Tax Returns for the self-employed from the most recent calendar year
• Signed statement from employer indicating gross earnings and time frame (weekly, monthly, etc.) for the most recent 30 days
• Winnings or payments from gaming, gambling, lottery, and bingo
• Other cash income, including regular contributions from persons not living in the household

How long can I be on WIC?

Louisiana 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 LA 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana 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 LA 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 Louisiana 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 LA 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.