New WIC Income Eligibility Guidelines

Women, Infants and Children Supplemental Nutrition Program

Revised income eligibility guidelines for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) special supplemental nutrition program were published to the Federal Register on March 18, 2016. The adjusted income eligibility guidelines are used by State agencies in determining the income eligibility of persons applying for the WIC Program.  The new guidelines must implemented by WIC State agencies not later than July 1, 2016. WIC State agencies may implement the revised income guidelines at the same time States implement revised income eligibility guidelines for the Medicaid Program. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published its annual update of the poverty guidelines [81 FR 4036] on January 25, 2016. HHS guidelines are used by a number of Federal programs, including WIC and the Medicaid Program, as the basis for determining and updating program income eligibility limits.

To be eligible on the basis of income, applicants’ gross income (before taxes are withheld) must fall at or below 185 percent of the U.S. Poverty Income Guidelines.

INCOME ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES

(Effective from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017)

Reduce Price Meals – 185%

Family Size

Annual

Monthly

Twice-Monthly

Bi-Weekly

Weekly

48 Contiguous States, D.C., Guam and Territories

1

$21,978

$1,832

$916

$846

$423

2

29,637

2,470

1,235

1,140

570

3

37,296

3,108

1,554

1,435

718

4

44,955

3,747

1,874

1,730

865

5

52,614

4,385

2,193

2,024

1,012

6

60,273

5,023

2,512

2,319

1,160

7

67,951

5,663

2,832

2,614

1,307

8

75,647

6,304

3,152

2,910

1,455

Each Add’l family

member add

+ $7,696

+ $642

+ $321

+ $296

+ $148

Alaska

1

$27,454

$2,288

$1,144

$1,056

$528

2

37,037

3,087

1,544

1,425

713

3

46,620

3,885

1,943

1,794

897

4

56,203

4,684

2,342

2,162

1,081

5

65,786

5,483

2,742

2,531

1,266

6

75,369

6,281

3,141

2,899

1,450

7

84,952

7,080

3,540

3,268

1,634

8

94,572

7,881

3,941

3,638

1,819

Each Add’l family

member add

+ $9,620

+ $802

+ $401

+ $370

+ $185

Hawaii

1

$25,290

$2,108

$1,054

$973

$487

2

34,096

2,842

1,421

1,312

656

3

42,902

3,576

1,788

1,651

826

4

51,708

4,309

2,155

1,989

995

5

60,514

5,043

2,522

2,328

1,164

6

69,320

5,777

2,889

2,667

1,334

7

78,126

6,511

3,256

3,005

1,503

8

86,969

7,248

3,624

3,345

1,673

Each Add’l family

member add

+ $8,843

+ $737

+ $369

+ $341

+ $171

Click here to see: 

WIC income eligibility guidelines for July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016

Federal Register Notice

How to Apply to Participate in WIC