How to apply for Minnesota WIC

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

WIC Prescreening

Before you start the Minnesota 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 Minnesota WIC program:

Is a Nutrition and Breastfeeding program
Helps eligible pregnant women, new mothers, babies and young children eat well, learn about nutrition, and stay healthy
Provides nutrition education and counseling, nutritious foods, and referrals to health and other social services

Minnesota WIC eligibility

The following people can participate:

Women
Pregnant Women
Breastfeeding women who have had a baby within the past year
Women who have had a baby within the past six months
Women who have been pregnant within the past six months
Infants from birth to 1 year of age
Children from 1 year of age to their 5th birthday

Additionally, the eligibility requirements for the MN WIC program are:

You must live in Minnesota
Each state provides WIC benefits to its residents
You will usually receive WIC services in the county where you live
You do not need to be a US citizen to be on WIC
You must have a medical or nutrition need

People who can apply for Minnesota WIC benefits are:

Pregnant women
Mothers and fathers with an infant or child under the age of 5
Foster parents or guardians with an infant or child under age 5

Medical Need
A medical need means that you or your child has health-based risks such as high or low weight, anemia, or a history of having low birth weight or premature babies.

Nutrition Need
A nutrition need means that you or your child may have poor eating habits, lack variety in the foods eaten daily, or are not eating enough of certain nutrients (like calcium, iron or protein).

If you or a family member is currently participating in any of the following programs, you and your family are adjunctively eligible for the MN WIC Program:

Medical Assistance
Medical Assistance - TEFRA
SNAP (Food Stamps)
MN Family Investment Program (MFIP)
Fuel Assistance
Reduced or Free School Lunch
Head Start
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

If someone in your family is receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or TEFRA, the person receiving these benefits is adjunctively eligible for the WIC. View the Minnesota WIC Income Guidelines.

Applying for WIC in Minnesota

To start the application process for Minnesota WIC benefits you will need to find your local WIC clinic to call and schedule an appointment. Or you can call their WIC hotline at 800-942-4030 and they will help you find a local WIC clinic.

Medical or nutrition needs will be assessed by a qualified health professional at your WIC appointment. Your first appointment will take about 30-45 minutes and you'll get your food vouchers that day.

What you need for your appointment

Your first appointment is called your certification appointment. At your certification appointment, the staff will check to see if you or your child is eligible for Minnesota WIC. Be sure to bring your infant or child with you to your WIC certification appointment. Below is a list of information you need to bring with you to your certification appointment.

Proof of Identity
Bring any one item from the following list for each person who has an appointment:

Baptismal Certificate
Birth Certificate
Crib Card
Driver's License
Health Benefits Card
Passport
Pay Stub
Photo ID, School ID, State ID, or Work ID
Social Security Card
Social Service Benefits Card
Tribal ID
Voter Registration Card

Proof of Address
Bring any one item from the following list for your entire family:

Bill
Driver's License
Lease or Rental Agreement
Mail Addressed to You
Pay Stub
Rent Receipt
State ID
Statement from Employer
Statement from Landlord
WIC Appointment Letter

Proof of Participation (If applicable)
If participating in any of the following programs, bring proof of participation in any one of the following programs:

Medical Assistance
Food Stamps
MN Family Investment Program (MFIP)
Fuel Assistance Program
Head Start
Reduced or Free School Meals
Social Security

Proof of Income
Bring any one item from the following list for each source of income in your household:

Child Support Payments/Letter
Pay Stub
Payment Award Letter
Pension or Annuity
Statement from Employer
Tax Form
Unemployment
Veteran's Payment
W-2 Form

How long does a WIC appointment take?
A WIC certification appointment takes about 30 minutes for each person with an appointment. 30 minutes can seem like a long time to a child. Please bring a snack or favorite toy to help make the appointment easier for both you and your child.

How long can I be on WIC?

Minnesota 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 MN 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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota 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 MN 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 Minnesota 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 MN 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.