How to apply for Nevada WIC

View the steps to apply for the Nevada WIC program. The Nevada Department of Health and Human Services 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 Nevada WIC office for assistance.

WIC Prescreening

Before you start the Nevada 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 Nevada WIC program provides:

Nutrition Education
The NV WIC program will help your family create healthy habits and reach your family's nutrition goals with helpful tips and a range of health and nutrition services that help participants put healthy behaviors into action. Services are customized to each family's needs and interests.

Nutritious Food
The WIC food package is based on the latest nutrition guidelines to promote optimal health and well-being for you and your family. The WIC foods are low in fat and high in fiber, provide nutritional variety and help to promote a healthy weight. Every food package is individually tailored to meet the participant's specific nutritional needs.

Breastfeeding Support
WIC offers breast feeding support, education, and counseling. Breastfeeding is a wonderful way to support the growth of your child while nurturing a bond that will last a lifetime. Mother's milk has everything a baby needs to grow and stay healthy.

Community Referrals
The NV WIC program wants you to have the community and healthcare assistance you need. They provide referrals for immunizations, health care and other programs.

Nutrition Counseling
Parents often worry about their child's eating habits. The Nevada qualified nutritionists and staff can give you professional nutrition and wellness advice.

Health Screening
Tracking your child's growth will help you understand his or her health and development.

It is this combination of education, supplemental foods, and referrals to health care providers which allows WIC to make a difference. The Nevada WIC program staff work with health and social service professionals to ensure the best health care possible.

Nevada WIC Eligibility

In order to participate in the Nevada WIC Program, the following requirements need to be met.

Categorical Requirement
A person must be one of the following:

• Pregnant woman
• Breastfeeding woman (up to one year after the delivery of baby)
• Postpartum woman who is not breastfeeding (up to 6 months after the delivery)
• Infant
• Child up to 5 years of age

Please note, fathers of children under the age of 5 are encouraged to enroll their children in the WIC program. Just like any other parent or guardian, fathers can bring their children to appointments, attend nutrition classes, and receive and redeem benefits for their children. Active participation by fathers is a great help in keeping WIC children healthy.

Residency Requirement
Participants in the Nevada WIC program must live in Nevada and be able to provide proof of residency.

Nutrition Risk Requirement
Have a risk identified through a medical/nutritional screening.

Income Requirement
The income guidelines for WIC are considerably higher than for other public assistance programs, so many families with employed members can qualify for WIC. In order to qualify, your total combined household income, before taxes are taken out, cannot exceed the following income guidelines. WIC counts an unborn baby as a household member so add one to household if pregnant.

Applicants who participate in the Medicaid, SNAP, or TANF automatically meet the income eligibility by bringing proof of their participation in one of these programs, other income documents are not needed. View the Nevada WIC Income Guidelines.

Applying for WIC in Nevada

To start the application process for Nevada WIC benefits, you need to contact your local WIC clinic and schedule an appointment.

What you need for your appointment

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

• Proof of Identification
• Must be current/valid original document (no photocopies).

For infants/children:

• Immunization Record
• Hospital Birth Record
• Birth Certificate
• Medicaid Card

For women or adult (parent, guardian, or proxy):

• Photo ID (such as drivers license, passport)
• Work or School ID
• Birth Certificate
• Medicaid Card

Proof of Residency
One proof of residency may be used to certify the entire family. Parent/guardian's proof of residence applies to the infant/child (name does not have to appear on the document used).

The following are accepted documentation forms of residency:

• Current Utility bills for the residence reported
• Rent or mortgage receipts for lodging/housing
• Statement from landlord
• State of Nevada driver's license or state I.D. with current physical address
• A PO Box address is not acceptable for proof of residence

Proof of Income
Bring documentation for all income received by the household members. All income from the prior 30 days will normally be considered, including:

• Wages, salary, commissions, or fees
• Net income from farm and non-farm self-employment
• Social Security benefits
• Dividends or interest on savings or bonds
• Income from estates or trusts, on investments or net rental income
• Public assistance or welfare payments
• Unemployment payments
• Government, civilian employee or military retirement or pensions or veterans payments
• Private pensions or annuities or insurance benefits
• Alimony or child support payments
• Regular contributions from persons not living in the household
• Net royalties
• Other income includes, but is not limited to, cash amounts received or withdrawn from any source

Nevada eWIC System

Nevada uses the eWIC system. Instead of using paper checks or vouchers, you are given a Nevada EBT WIC (Electronic benefit transfer) Card. When you purchase WIC approved foods at your local grocery store, you would hand the cashier your NV WIC EBT card and the cashier will swipe your card like a credit or debit card. Their POS system will then deduct the amount from your WIC balance.

Also, instead of having to go to your local WIC clinic each month to get more paper checks or vouchers, your Nevada WIC EBT card will be automatically refilled electronically. For customer support you can call toll free 844-892-2932 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

How will I know my WIC food benefit balance?
There are four ways to get your balance:

• Always keep your last receipt as this will show your remaining balance
• Call the toll-free number 877-234-7056 and follow the directions
• Go to the cashier line at your grocery store and do a balance inquiry
• Download and use the WICShopper app

What if my card is lost or stolen?
If your card is lost or stolen, report it immediately by calling Customer Service. Always call the minute your find out your card is missing. You will have to wait 5-7 business days to receive your replacement card in the mail.

How long can I be on WIC?

Nevada 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 NV 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 Nevada 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 Nevada 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 NV 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 Nevada 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 NV 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.