How to apply for South Dakota WIC
View the steps to apply for the South Dakota WIC program. The South Dakota 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 South Dakota WIC office for assistance.
WIC Prescreening
Before you start the South Dakota 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.
South Dakota WIC Eligibility
To participate in South Dakota WIC, you'll need to meet certain guidelines. They want to make sure their support is placed in the hands of the people who need it most, so they ask that participants in the program meet the following criteria.
To be eligible to apply for the South Dakota WIC program you must have an infant, have a child younger than five or be a woman or teenage girl who is:
- Pregnant
- Up to 6 months after pregnancy
- Breastfeeding up to 12 months after birth
You must be a resident of South Dakota. For income, you must meet the South Dakota WIC Income Guidelines, which is based on your family size, or if you currently receive SNAP benefits, Medicaid, TANF or FDPIR, you are automatically income eligible.
If you are a salaried or hourly earner, you'll need to provide all income received by the household during the month prior to the date of your application for SD WIC. If you are self-employed or a farmer, bring in your most recent US1040 income tax form. They use your net earnings to determine your income qualifications.
Applying for WIC in South Dakota
To start the application process for South Dakota WIC benefits you must contact your local WIC clinic and schedule an appointment. If you can't find the clinic closest to you, then you can contact the central office at 605-773-3361 or toll-free at 800-738-2301.
What you need for your appointment
At your appointment, the WIC staff check your:
- Proof of ID and South Dakota residency
- List of typical foods you and your family eats
- Health history
- Height and weight measurements
- Blood test results
- Nutrition and health needs with a medical professional
South Dakota eWIC System
South Dakota uses the eWIC system. This replaces paper vouchers and checks with a SD WIC EBT (Electronic benefit transfer) Card. You would use this card at checkout when purchasing WIC approved food at your local grocery store. The cashier would then swipe your card like a debit or credit card and their POS system will deduct the amount from your current WIC balance.
Also, instead of having to visit your local WIC clinic each month to get more paper checks or vouchers, your South Dakota WIC EBT Card is automatically refilled electronically. To view your current South Dakota EBT Card balance or your purchase history, you can visit EBTEdge.com. If your eWIC card doesn't work, or you are having issues with your PIN, or need to report your card lost or stolen, then call the eWIC customer service center at 877-231-9314.
How long can I be on WIC?
South Dakota 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 SD 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 South Dakota 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 South Dakota 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 SD 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 South Dakota 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 SD 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.
