The ABC's of W.I.C. By Renée Ruggiero, Triplet Mom Originally printed in August 2003 If you are pregnant or the parent of a child who is under the age of 5, the Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants and Children, now known as WIC, could be your best friend. A mother of twins recommended it to me while I was pregnant and I've, in turn, recommended it a hundred times to others. WIC was invaluable in providing for my enormous milk consumption during my pregnancy and now covers my babies' prescription formula which otherwise, would cost me $27 per can. Without WIC, I don't know what we would have done. The following information about this program was taken from http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/ WIC is an effective nutrition program that provides for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non- breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children who are found to be at nutritional risk. Since its beginning in 1974, the WIC Program has earned the reputation of being one of the most successful Federally-funded nutrition programs in the United States. A 1990 study showed that women who participated in the program during their pregnancies had lower Medicaid costs for themselves and their babies than did women who did not participate. WIC participation was also linked with longer gestation periods, higher birth weights and lower infant mortality. Who is eligible? Pregnant or postpartum women, infants, and children up to age 5 are eligible. They must meet income guidelines, a State residency requirement, and be individually determined to be at "nutritional risk" by a health professional. Applicants meet with a WIC nutritionist for this reason. To be eligible on the basis of income, applicants' gross income (i.e. before taxes are withheld) must fall at or below 185 percent of the U.S. Poverty Income Guidelines. Also, U.S. citizenship is not an eligibility requirement! Citizen or not, you can get WIC providing you meet the before mentioned requirements. Income Eligibility Guidelines (effective 7/1/03 - 6/30/04) Annually Monthly Weekly Family of 1 $16,613 $1,385 $320 Family of 2 $22,422 $1,869 $432 Family of 3 $28,231 $2,353 $543 Family of 4 $34,040 $2,837 $655 Family of 5 $39,849 $3,321 $767 Family of 6 $45,658 $3,805 $879 Family of 7 $51,467 $4,289 $990 Family of 8 $57,276 $4,773 $1,102 For each +5,809 +485 +112 add'l family (Note, unborn children should be member, add included in your family count.) A person or certain family members who participate in other benefits programs such as the Food Stamp Program, Medicaid, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families automatically meet the income eligibility requirement. What is "nutritional risk"? Two major types of nutritional risk are recognized for WIC eligibility: ? Medically-based risks (designated as "high priority") such as anemia, underweight, maternal age, history of pregnancy complications, or poor pregnancy outcomes. A multiples pregnancy would fall under this category. ? Diet-based risks such as inadequate dietary pattern. What food benefits do WIC participants receive? WIC participants receive checks to purchase specific foods each month which are designed to supplement their diets. WIC foods include iron-fortified infant formula and infant cereal, iron-fortified adult cereal, vitamin C-rich fruit and/or vegetable juice, eggs, milk, cheese, peanut butter, dried beans or peas, tuna fish and carrots. Special infant formulas and certain medical foods may be provided when prescribed by a physician or health professional for a specified medical condition. WIC is a short-term program. Therefore, a participant will "graduate" at the end of one or more certification periods. Depending on your situation, an eligible individual usually receives WIC benefits from 6 months to a year, at which time she/he must reapply. As your situation changes, the types of food you are allotted changes as well. When I was pregnant, my WIC checks provided for adult cereal, juice, eggs, milk, cheese and peanut butter. These checks continued until six months after delivery when I "graduated" from that portion of the program and was no longer eligible. When my children were born, they were issued checks of their own that covered their prescription baby formula. At six months, their checks were changed to include infant cereal and then eventually juice. After they are a year old, they will be reevaluated by the nutritionist and will begin to get the eggs, milk, cheese, peanut butter, etc. that I used to get. WIC also has something called the WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) which provides additional coupons to WIC participants that they can use to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at participating farmers' markets. Those vouchers come around the age of one. When I get WIC checks, what do I do with them? Once you have your WIC checks, go shopping, and always bring with you an ID as well as your WIC card. All grocery stores, some pharmacies, and some smaller "mom and pop" type stores will accept WIC. Usually, they have signs posted if they do, but be sure to go in and ask. There is a small corner store we use frequently, and the management is nice enough to keep all the WIC approved items on the same shelf. That makes getting our items so much easier and we show our appreciation by returning often. Note that to get special prescription formulas, you are restricted to obtaining them from WIC pharmacies only. Supermarkets, even if they carry the prescription formula, are not allowed to accept these designated checks. Read your checks carefully. They must include a valid date. You must get exactly what the checks state. You are not allowed to skip, substitute, or take a lesser amount of any items. Infant cereals, usually requiring 24 oz. of such, must meet that exact amount (three 8 oz. boxes, or one 8 oz. and one 16 oz. box). You can pick oatmeal, rice, barley or mixed, just none of the ones with fruit added. Juice must be 100% juice – no "cocktails." The Juicy-Juice concentrate that is in "soda cans" are the perfect size and store forever… Better than those huge tin cans. Welch's also make some nice juice mixtures, like white grape and peach juice, that still falls under the WIC requirements. Adult cereals are the ones really low on sugar, like Total, Corn Flakes, Kix. Try and find something you really like, otherwise those boxes add up and you'll soon need a bigger house! Since the babies are not eligible for the perishables yet, I usually redeem all of my WIC checks for the month at once. To save time and aggravation, I take a minute to ask the store manager which of their cashiers is best experienced with redeeming WIC checks. Cashiers and the customers behind you will both be groaning to see a lengthy transaction ahead of them, and there is no need to prolong the torture with a cashier that doesn't know what their doing. Get organized and separate all your items with their appropriate checks – it makes life so much easier for everyone involved. Do not endorse your checks until the cashier asks you to. They will need to see your card and verify your identity. How do I apply? Contact the WIC State agency below to find the office serving your area, then call the local office to schedule an appointment. Applicants will be advised about what to bring to the WIC appointment to help determine eligibility (which usually includes pay stubs, proof of address, etc.). MASSACHUSETTS: 617-624-6100 or 800-WIC-1007 http://www.state.ma.us/dph/bfch/wic/wic.htm NEW HAMPSHIRE: 603-271-4546 or 800-WIC-4321 http://www.dhhs.state.nh.us/DHHS/WIC/default.htm RHODE ISLAND: 401-222-4604 or 800-942-7434 http://www.health.state.ri.us/ In my experience with applying for WIC benefits, I was so worried I wouldn't be approved. Contrary to my fears, my local WIC office was generous and supportive, and appeared to care about nothing but my food needs and the welfare of myself and my pregnancy. I've estimated WIC is saving us over $7100 in formula this first year alone. WIC is an incredible resource, and definitely worth taking the time to look into. Good luck! More Massachusetts Resources Submitted by Maureen Whitcomb, Quad Mom Originally printed in August 2003 Massachusetts offers lots of programs and you can read about them on their website www.ma.gov. There, you will find home/health, family, education and state agencies, just to name a few. This is a great place to start if you have questions about where to get help. Www.BostonResourcenet.org is a website that does "what" and "where" searches. Resource Net is a free, one-of-a-kind web tool providing a wide range of information about human services—the kind of information you can't get from a phone book! As the leading hunger-relief organization in Massachusetts, Project Bread provides direct services to hungry people across the state. On the www.projectbread.org website, you will find information about food stamps (www.gettingfoodstamps.org) -- you can check to see if you would qualify without even leaving your house. You may find yourself short on groceries or money for the month. Food programs are there to use, if needed. To check into food pantries, call the Food Source Hotline (1-800-645-8333) and counselors will refer callers to food resources in their communities. Hotline counselors also provide callers with appropriate information on other public programs that supply free or low-cost food. Most towns have food pantries and food is available to everyone; you are never refused. You may have to show proof of residence or photo ID. Serve New England is a food cooperative that I have tried. It works out great. You can order the food via their website at www.servenewengland.org and a confirmation is sent to you, telling where and when to pick up your order. You can pay by ATM/CC this way. Serve New England purchases its food from local growers, suppliers and wholesalers - just like the grocery stores. They are extremely picky about their food, only using what they feel is the best quality food available. There is no government surplus food or "seconds." All food is purchased from the money paid by participants for food packages. They offer a family package meal for $18.00, just meats for $11-15 or produce for $12. Check it out!