How to apply for New Hampshire WIC
View the steps to apply for the New Hampshire WIC program. The New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire WIC office for assistance.
WIC Prescreening
Before you start the New Hampshire 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.
New Hampshire WIC Eligibility
NH WIC services are for:
- Pregnant women
- Breastfeeding women up to 12 month after the infant's birth
- Non-breastfeeding women up to 6 months after the infants' birth
- Infants, and children up to their 5th birthday
To be eligible for New Hampshire WIC benefits, you must be income eligible, reside in the service area covered by the local agency, and be nutritionally at risk as determined by a staff nutritionist. Services are available by calling 800-WIC-4321, or by calling the local agency closest to where one lives. View the New Hampshire WIC Income Guidelines.
Applying for WIC in New Hampshire
To start the application process for NH WIC benefits you need to call your local WIC clinic and schedule an appointment or call the State WIC Agency at 800-942-4321.
New Hampshire eWIC System
New Hampshire is planning to move to the eWIC system by the end of the fall in 2018. This will replace your WIC checks or vouchers with a NH WIC EBT (Electronic benefit transfer) Card. When purchasing WIC approved foods at your local grocery store, you would hand the cashier your New Hampshire WIC EBT Card and they will swipe it 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 NH eWIC card will automatically be refilled electronically.
How long can I be on WIC?
New Hampshire 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 NH 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 New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire 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 NH 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 New Hampshire 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 NH 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.
