How to apply for Virginia WIC

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

WIC Prescreening

Before you start the Virginia 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

The Virginia WIC program provides nutrition education, breastfeeding promotion and support, supplemental nutritious foods, counseling at WIC clinics, and screening and referrals to other health, welfare, and social services.

The goal of the Virginia WIC program is to improve the health of pregnant women, infants and children (under 5 years) through better nutrition and access to health care. To be eligible for VA WIC benefits, applicants must meet categorical, residential, income, and nutrition risk requirements.

Virginia WIC Eligibility

You are eligible to apply to Virginia WIC if you:

Are pregnant, breastfeeding, just had a baby or are a mother, father, grandparent, foster parent, or other legal guardian of a child under the age of 5
Are a resident of Virginia
Have a nutritional need (this is determined at your local WIC clinic)
Your income is within the Virginia WIC Income Guidelines

Applying for WIC in Virginia

To start the application process for Virginia WIC benefits, contact your local WIC clinic to schedule an appointment. To start your application online, click here.

What you need for your appointment

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

eWIC Card for returning clients
Proof of Income
Proof of where you live
Person applying for WIC
Child's immunization record

For nutrition education appointments you need to bring:

eWIC Card
Healthbites certificate if completed through online program Healthbites

For your certification appointments, expect the following:

30 mins-1 hour in length
If first appointment: will receive eWIC card, how to PIN and use your eWIC card
Finger stick for blood work depending on age and WIC category
Height and weight check
Nutrition education
A review of your Food Prescription

For your nutrition appointment, expect the following:

30 minutes
Discuss your nutritional needs through a one-on-one appointment or group nutrition class
A review of your Food Prescription

Virginia eWIC System

Virginia uses the eWIC system. This replaces paper checks and vouchers with a Virginia WIC EBT (Electronic benefit transfer) Card. This allows you to purchase WIC approved foods at your local grocery store. At check out you would hand the cashier your eWIC card and they will swipe it like a debit or credit card. Their POS system will then deduct the amount from your current WIC balance.

Also, instead of visiting your local WIC clinic each month to get more paper checks or vouchers, your Virginia WIC EBT Card will be automatically refilled electronically. You can contact customer service at 877-677-5963.

How do I check my eWIC balance?
You can get your Virginia WIC EBT balance by:

Checking your last store receipt from the current benefit month
Performing a balance inquiry at the store
Going to the WIC website at ebt.acs-inc.com
Calling Customer Service at 877-677-5963
If you receive text messages from WIC, you may send the BAL (Balance Inquiry) text command to "WICVA" from your mobile phone

What if my card is lost or stolen?
Immediately call Customer Service at 877-677-5963 as soon as you ﬁnd out your eWIC benefit card is gone.

How long can I be on WIC?

Virginia 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 VA 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 Virginia 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 Virginia 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 VA 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 Virginia 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 VA 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.