WIC Eligibility

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WIC is available to pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants and children up to age five. To participate one must: 
 

1. Be a resident of North Carolina or receive health care in North Carolina.
2. Have a family income less than 185% of the U.S. Poverty Income Guidelines. A person receiving Medicaid, Work First, or Food Stamps automatically meets the income eligibility requirement.
3. Be at nutritional risk as determined by a CPA (Competent Professional Authority) or Nutritionist. Examples of nutritional risk conditions are listed below:
   • Underweight/overweight
   • Documented nutrition-related medical conditions
   • Inadequate dietary intake
   • Conditions that predispose a person to inadequate nutritional patterns such as lead poisoning, alcohol or drug abuse

WIC Certification Periods

• Pregnant women are certified for their pregnancy and up to six weeks postpartum. 
• Non-breast feeding postpartum women are certified until six months postpartum.
• Breast feeding postpartum women are certified up to 12 months postpartum
• Infants are certified up to one year
• Children are certified once a year until five years of age.