The WIC program — officially the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children — is a federally funded public health nutrition program that provides healthy food benefits, nutrition counseling, breastfeeding support, and community referrals to income-eligible pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children under age five. WIC is widely credited with improving birth outcomes and reducing infant mortality in the United States.
There are 52 states with WIC Office locations across the United States. WIC currently serves approximately 6.5 million participants each month through more than 10,000 local WIC clinic sites operated by state health departments and approved local agencies.
WIC Office in the United States
Browsing by state helps you locate the WIC clinic nearest you, understand your state's approved food list, find out how benefits are delivered (most states now use an EBT card system), and access contact information for the state WIC agency if you have questions about eligibility or appeals.
Common Services
- WIC food benefit issuance — including milk, cheese, eggs, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and infant formula
- Individual nutrition education sessions and group nutrition classes tailored to pregnancy and early childhood
- Breastfeeding peer counseling, lactation consultant referrals, and breast pump lending programs
- Referrals to prenatal care, immunization clinics, Medicaid, SNAP, and other community support services
Visitor tip: WIC services are free of charge. To apply, contact your local WIC clinic and bring proof of identity (such as a driver's license or birth certificate), proof of residency, proof of income, and documentation of pregnancy or your child's current age. Eligibility is reassessed at each certification appointment, typically every 6–12 months.
For official information, visit USDA Food and Nutrition Service — WIC Program.
About WIC Office
WIC is administered federally by the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) and implemented at the state level through health departments and approved local WIC agencies. Federal WIC grants are distributed to the 50 states, the District of Columbia, 5 U.S. territories, and 34 Indian Tribal Organizations. Each state sets its own authorized food list within federal guidelines, so the specific items available on the WIC benefit may vary slightly between states. The program was established in 1972 as a pilot and made permanent in 1975.
Common Services
- WIC EBT benefit card enrollment and management at authorized grocery stores and pharmacies
- Medical nutrition therapy referrals for high-risk pregnancy or infant conditions
- Infant feeding guidance and safe formula preparation counseling for non-breastfeeding participants
- Linkages to Head Start, Early Intervention, and home visiting programs for eligible families
WIC participants who move to a new state can transfer their benefits — contact both the old and new state WIC agencies to coordinate the transition without interruption. Families who are denied WIC benefits or lose benefits have the right to request a fair hearing through the state WIC agency. Legal immigrants and non-citizen nationals may be eligible for WIC regardless of immigration status.
For official information, visit USDA Food and Nutrition Service — WIC Program.