How to apply for Maryland WIC

View the steps to apply for the Maryland WIC program. The Maryland 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 Maryland WIC office for assistance.

WIC Prescreening

Before you start the Maryland 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 Maryland WIC benefits provides:

Nutrition education
Breastfeeding Support
Free healthy food and
Referral to other health and social agencies

For women, the Maryland WIC program helps them eat better and have healthier babies. The program helps infants born to WIC mothers weigh more and grow and develop better. For children participating in the MD WIC program, it allows them to eat foods with more iron and vitamin C, which helps them develop strong minds and bodies.

Maryland WIC Eligibility

The MD WIC program is for you if you live in Maryland and are a:

Pregnant woman
New mom (up to six months after delivery)
Breastfeeding mom (up to one year after delivery)
Infant
Child under the age of five
You meet the Maryland WIC Income Guidelines
You have a nutritional need

You can receive MD WIC benefits even if you:

Have a job or be unemployed
Own a home or live with friends or relatives
Be married or single
Be a father, mother, guardian, or grandparent and apply for benefits for an infant or child under the age of 5

If you are eligible for Maryland WIC, you will receive nutrition information, breastfeeding support, referrals to other services, and checks to buy foods such as:

Whole grain bread, tortillas, and brown rice
Fruits and vegetables
Dried canned beans and peas
Peanut butter
Cereal, milk, and 100% juice
Eggs and cheese
Baby food and baby cereal
Infant formula

Maryland WIC Income

Check the MD WIC Income Guidelines to see if you qualify for WIC. If your family receives less than the amount listed, you may be eligible. Foster care, Medical Assistance, Temporary Cash Assistance and Food Supplement Program clients are income eligible.

Applying for WIC in Maryland

To get the application process started, you will need to call your local WIC clinic and schedule an appointment.

What you need for your appointment

To prepare for your WIC appointment, you need to bring the following information:

Proof of Household Income

Recent pay stubs, or benefit letter: SSI, Social Security, Unemployment
Medical Assistance card
Independence Card with register receipt (30 days)
Tax Return

Proof of Identity

Birth Certificate
Driver's License or MVA identification
Social Security Card
Picture Identification (Government, School, Employment)

Proof of Address

Driver's License or MVA Identification
Official Bill or Statement
Copy of Lease

If applicable bring proof of pregnancy, immunization records for infants or children, or WIC referrals. If you have any questions, you can contact them at 800-242-4942 or by email at dhmh.wic@maryland.gov.

Maryland eWIC System

Maryland has converted over to the eWIC system. This replaces paper checks and vouchers with a Maryland WIC EBT (Electronic benefit transfer) Card. When you are purchasing WIC approved foods at your local grocery store, you would hand the cashier your WIC card and they will swipe it like a debit or credit card.

Their POS system will then deduct the amount from your WIC balance. Also, instead of having to go down to your local WIC office each month to get more WIC checks or vouchers, the eWIC system will automatically refill your Maryland WIC EBT card electronically.

Client Portal

WIC participants can view their current balance, view upcoming or schedule their appointments and view their nutrition goals through the Maryland WIC portal system. If you receive benefits and need to access the portal system, click here.

How long can I be on WIC?

Maryland 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 MD 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 Maryland 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 Maryland 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 MD 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 Maryland 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 MD 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.