Women, Infants & Children (WIC)

Welcome to the Rowan County Health Department's WIC North CarolinaWIC page!

WIC is a Special Supplemental Nutrition Program funded by the United States Department of Agriculture. The WIC program began in 1974 (PDF).

WIC is for:

  • Breastfeeding women who have had a baby in the last 12 months 
  • Children up to 5 years of age 
  • Infants 
  • Pregnant women 
  • Women who have had a baby in the last 6 months

Services

  • Healthy Food - such as milk, juice, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, cheese, eggs, cereal, and infant formula 
  • Nutritional Information - about infant feeding, nutrition for healthy pregnancy, child growth and development, special diets, healthy eating, and food buying 
  • Breastfeeding Promotion and Support
  • Referrals for Health Care

Eligibility

All kinds of families qualify for WIC. You may or may not be working. You may be a student, single or married, or live with your parents.

  • Live in North Carolina
  • Have a family income less than 185% of the U.S. Poverty Income Guidelines. If you have Medicaid, Work First Families Assistance (TANF), or assistance from the NC Food and Nutrition Services, you automatically meet the income eligibility requirement. 
  • Check the WIC Prescreening Tool to find out if you might be eligible for WIC benefits.

Requirements

  • Meet WIC Income Guidelines - Even if you have a job, you may be eligible. If you are on Work First Family Assistance, Medicaid, or receive Food Stamps, you may already meet the income guidelines. 
  • Have a health risk factor based on height and weight measurements, a blood test for low iron, health history, diet history. 
  • Applicants must be seen at the WIC site to determine eligibility. 

Required Information

You will need to provide proof of identification, residence (where you live), and household income. Examples of what you will need to bring: 

  • Identification (only one is needed)
    • Birth Certificate
    • Current Military Identification
    • Current Work/School Identification
    • Health Record
    • Immunization Record
    • Medicaid Card
    • Social Security card
    • Valid driver's license
  • Residence (only one is needed)
    • Current mortgage or rental agreement 
    • Gas bill or telephone bill
    • Recent cable bill
    • Recent water or electric bill
  • Income (only one is needed)
    • Beige ATP card
    • Letter of food stamp certification
    • Medicaid card
    • Recent paycheck stubs
    • Recent tax return for the self-employed

Online WIC Referral Form

Any interested individuals may self-refer, or community partners or other agencies may refer families to WIC using the online WIC Referral Form. After completing this form, a nearby WIC clinic will contact the individual or family within 10 to 20 business days.

Application Process

  • Your income information will be reviewed. 
  • You will be asked questions about your health and your diet. 
  • Height, weight, and a blood test for iron deficiency will be done unless you bring this information from another clinic or doctor's office. 
  • A nutritionist or nurse will review the above information to see if you are eligible for WIC
  • Any nutritional problems or questions you have will be discussed. 
  • If eligible, you will be given an NC eWIC card to take to the store to get your food. 

You may apply for WIC by contacting the Rowan County Health Department between 8 and 9 a.m., Monday through Friday for an appointment.