Women, Infants & Children (WIC)

The Missouri WIC program provides supplemental food, health care referrals, nutrition education and breastfeeding promotion and support to eligible pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants and children up to age five. Fathers, grandparents, guardians and foster parents may also apply for benefits for the children living in their household.

How can we help?

Am I eligible?

Must live in Missouri.
Meet the income guidelines.
- Foster children under 5 are automatically eligible for WIC benefits.
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance (TA) participants and participants of income-qualifying MO HealthNet are automatically eligible for WIC benefits.
Meet a below category:
- Pregnant woman.
- Breastfeeding woman until the infant’s first birthday.
- Postpartum women up to six months after delivery or end of pregnancy.
- Infants.
- Children until their 5th birthday.

Still unsure? Use the prescreen tool or call a WIC local agency.

I am eligible. What happens next?

Qualified individuals must apply by completing a certification appointment with a WIC local agency, which includes a health assessment and nutrition education.
All applicants will need to bring the following to the certification appointment.
- Proof of identity.
  - Adults: photo ID, such as driver's license, passport, voter ID card, state ID card or military ID card.
  - Infants and children: birth certificate, hospital records or immunization records.
- Proof of residency.
  - Pay stub with name and physical address.
  - Most recent utility bill or personal bill.
  - Current rent or mortgage receipt.
  - Voter ID card.
- Proof of income.
  - SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), TA (Temporary Assistance) and most Medicaid participants are automatically eligible for WIC, so no proof of income is needed.
  - Current pay stubs.
  - W-2 forms or income tax returns.
  - Unemployment letter or notice.
- The WIC local agency can help offer alternatives if these documents are not available.

How do I apply?

Complete the online interest form and have a WIC local agency contact you.
Call a WIC local agency. The blue pins on the locations map show all agencies along with their phone numbers and addresses.
Contact TEL-LINK at 1-800-TEL-LINK or 1-800-835-5465

Frequently Asked Questions

Can men receive WIC benefits?

Although WIC does not provide food packages for men, they receive many other benefits. The WIC program was developed to meet the needs of pregnant women, infants and children in the critical growth years of fetal development and early childhood. WIC benefits, by design of the program, are provided only to pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women; infants; and children until their 5th birthday. A man with any of these participants in his family will benefit from the support and nutrition education offered to his family. Men can and are encouraged to participate in nutrition education, family nutrition counseling, shopping for WIC approved food and referrals to health care and other programs that may benefit their families.

What do I need to bring to the WIC local agency when applying for services?

Proof of identity:

Infants and children: Immunization record, birth certificate, hospital records (e.g., crib card, hospital band, discharge paperwork), or Family Support Division letter with identifying information.
Adults: Photo ID such as driver license, passport, employment ID card, school ID card, state ID card, military ID card, or naturalization record.
When a photo ID is not available, proof could be a card or letter verifying health care, social services or voter registration card.

Proof of residency:

Most recent or current utility bill or personal bill mailed to the residence.
Current rent or mortgage receipt.
Voter registration card.
Property tax receipt.
Pay stub that contains name and physical address.
Mail received from a government agency other than WIC (e.g., jury summons, social services letter).
Written statement from a reliable third party (e.g., employer, church, social service agency) with knowledge of the applicant’s or participant’s regular or nighttime location.

Proof of income: (Must include the prior 30 days of income.)

Current pay stubs (paper or electronic) noting the pay time frame (e.g., weekly, bi-weekly, monthly).
W-2 forms or income tax returns for the most recent calendar year.
Signed statement from employer indicating gross earnings for a specified pay period.
Commissions, fees, and tip records.
Unemployment letter or notice.
Check stub or award letter from Social Security stating current amount of earnings.
Recent Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) for military personnel.
Recent bank statement.
Foster child placement letter or foster parent award letter.
Divorce decree which states child support and alimony.
Scholarship letter.
Accounting records for the self-employed.
If you are currently on MO HealthNet, Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF), or receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), you might be eligible for benefits without current proof of income.

What food does WIC provide?

The WIC food packages are based on the type of participant (woman, infant or child). Nutritionists can tailor the food package for each individual.

WIC encourages and provides support for breastfeeding. For babies who are not fully breastfed, iron fortified infant formula can be provided.
At six months of age, infants may receive infant cereal, fruit and vegetables. Infants who are fully breastfed also receive infant meat.
Women and children can receive milk; soy milk; eggs; cheese; cold and hot cereal; juice; peanut butter; dried beans, peas and lentils; canned beans; infant cereal; infant formula; infant fruit, vegetables; tofu; whole wheat breads; brown rice; tortillas; whole wheat pasta; and fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables.
Women who fully breastfeed their babies may also receive extra food including canned tuna or sardines.
Women, infants and children who have certain medical conditions may also be provided exempt formula and WIC eligible nutritionals.

Will WIC provide all of the food my baby and I need?

No, WIC will not provide all of the food needed for a month. Food provided by WIC is intended to be a part of the diet. The food packages approved for use in the Missouri WIC program are designed to help meet infants’ developmental needs and current pediatric feeding recommendations, and to complement the eating patterns of preschool children. WIC food also supplements the special requirements of pregnant and breastfeeding women to help replenish the nutrient stores women use during pregnancy.

What if I have allergies?

All WIC participants have a full nutrition assessment completed to determine individual needs. All medical conditions, including food allergies diagnosed by a healthcare provider, will be reviewed and the food package will be adjusted as needed. WIC allows gluten-free cereal options, the substitution of milk for lactose-free milk, soy milk, or tofu, and nutrition tailoring (the removal of food items) to eliminate food allergens such as eggs or nuts, if needed. WIC can also provide specialized hypoallergenic formulas for participants with medical documentation of a qualifying condition from a health care provider.

Why does WIC provide juice if some people say it is bad for children?

In combination with fresh fruits and vegetables, moderate consumption of 100% unsweetened juice can help participants meet vitamin C recommendations. WIC juice benefits allow for one, 4 oz serving of pasteurized, 100% unsweetened juice per day, if desired. For children, juice should only be consumed with meals or snacks. For more information, read what the American Academy of Pediatrics says about juice consumption.

How do I report suspected fraud or abuse of the Missouri WIC program?

Contact the Missouri WIC state agency at 800-392-8209 or file a report online.

How can I get information on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)?

If you are a WIC applicant or participant, your WIC local agency can tell you where to find the Family Support office in your community. You may also visit the SNAP website or call the Family Support Division Information Center at 855-373-4636.

Topic Menu

How can we help?

Am I eligible?

I am eligible. What happens next?

How do I apply?

Frequently Asked Questions