Find Minnesota WIC Offices. WIC Offices provide information on WIC programs (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) applications and income/eligibility requirements, benefits, food stamp offices and checks, jobs, online education, and classes, approved food lists, grocery stores, and vendors.
A WIC Office is an agency that provides access to the Women, Infants, and Children nutritional programs offered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service agency. The WIC program promotes the health of low-income women, infants, and children by providing food, nutrition education, and referrals to health care.
WIC is funded by the federal government and administered by the states through their Departments of Public Health, which distribute funds to local organizations that operate WIC Offices. WIC Offices may be local government agencies, community action agencies, human service agencies, or other non-profit organizations. These WIC Offices, sometimes referred to as WIC Clinics, accept and process applications for WIC benefits, and they are located throughout each state.
WIC benefits include Food Packages, which enable recipients to purchase supplemental foods designed specifically for the nutritional needs of pregnant and breastfeeding women, infants, and young children. In most states, the Food Package benefit is provided to the recipient on an eWIC or EBT card. The WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program provides WIC recipients with coupons that they may use for purchases at farmers markets. WIC benefits also include consultations with nutritionists and other professionals regarding dietary needs, referrals to other health care providers, and opportunities to meet with groups of other mothers and children. WIC also promotes and supports breastfeeding.
Eligibility is restricted to pregnant and recently pregnant women, infants, and young children. Income restrictions also apply. States have the flexibility to set the maximum income limit at anywhere between 100% and 185% of the federal poverty income guidelines. However, eligible women and children who are participating in SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, and certain other public assistance programs may automatically meet the income requirements of WIC. WIC recipients must also have been determined to be at "nutrition risk"
WIC Offices accept applications for WIC benefits and determine eligibility for benefits. In addition to processing applications, WIC Offices may conduct the assessment for nutrition risk.