How to apply for Washington WIC
View the steps to apply for the Washington WIC program. The Washington State 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 Washington WIC office for assistance.
WIC Prescreening
Before you start the Washington 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.
Washington WIC Eligibility
WA WIC eligibility depends on household size and income.
- WIC is a nutrition program for pregnant women, new and breastfeeding moms, and children under five
- Dad, grandparents, and other caregivers of children under the age of five may also sign kids up for WIC
- Foster children under age five and foster teens who are pregnant are eligible for Washington WIC
- If you or your family member are on Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or Basic Food you may be eligible for Washington WIC too
- Many working families and military families are eligible for WIC in Washington
- View the Washington WIC Income Guidelines to see if you meet the income requirements
Applying for WIC in Washington
To start the application process for Washington WIC benefits, contact your local WIC clinic. If you cannot find one, then call the Family Health Hotline at 800-322-2588. They will help you find a clinic in your area. Once you find a WIC clinic, you need to call them and schedule an appointment. Your first appointment will take about 30-45 minutes and you'll get your WA WIC checks that day.
How long can I be on WIC?
Washington 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 WA 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 Washington 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 Washington 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 WA 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 Washington 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 WA 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.
