WIC

Supplemental nutrition for Women, Infants and Children. Provides subsidy for certain nutritious foods to pregnant women, or families with young children.

WIC Offices

Springfield: (413) 737-5142

Amherst: (413) 549-6825

Northampton: (413) 584-3591

Ware: (413) 967-2163

Eligibility Check

 https://service.hhs.state.ma.us/ier/jsp/screening/LoginServlet?Application=Screening

Please Note: These screens are not official: they may be incorrect or imcomplete. The screening survey does not ask for personal information (name, social security etc.): your information is anonymous. This survey is not an application.

General Information:

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=eohhs2terminal&L=5&L0=Home&L1=Consumer&L2=Basic+Needs&L3=Food+%26+Nutrition&L4=Women%2c+Infants+and+Children+(WIC)+Nutrition+Program&sid=Eeohhs2&b=terminalcontent&f=dph_wic_c_ier_wic_overview&csid=Eeohhs2

"About the Program

The Massachusetts Women, Infants and Children Nutrition (WIC) Program provides nutrition and health education, healthy food and other services free of charge to Massachusetts families who qualify. Participants receive checks to buy free healthy food such as milk, cheese, 100% fruit juices, cereals, infant formula, peanut butter, carrots, tuna, dried beans, and eggs. The WIC Program collaborates with the U.S. Department of Food and Agriculture to provide WIC participants with coupons, redeemable at Farmers’ Markets for fresh fruits and vegetables during the summer months. More...

Service Offerings

WIC’s goal is to help keep pregnant and breastfeeding women and children under age 5 healthy. WIC provides:

• Personalized nutrition consultations
• Checks to buy free, healthy food
• Referrals for medical and dental care, health insurance, childcare, housing and fuel assistance, and other services that can benefit the whole family.

WIC also offers immunizations screening and referrals, breastfeeding support, and nutrition and health workshops on a variety of topics including meal planning, maintaining a healthy weight, picky eaters, caring for a new baby, and shopping on a budget.

Populations Served

Pregnant women, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding women, children under 5.

WIC is for all kinds of families: married and single parents, working or not working. If you are a father, mother, grandparent, foster parent or other legal guardian of a child under 5, you can apply for your child.

Eligibility Criteria

You can participate in WIC if you:

• Live in Massachusetts
• Have a nutritional need (WIC staff can help determine this)
• Are a pregnant or breastfeeding woman or a child under 5
• Have a family income less than WIC guidelines

If you currently receive TAFDC, Food Stamps or MassHealth (Medicaid), you are automatically eligible for WIC. (MassHealth members with Family Assistance and CommonHealth coverage are NOT automatically income eligible.) Find out if you might be eligible.

Application Process

Contact your local WIC office or 1-800-WIC-1007 (1-800-942-1007) to schedule an appointment. A face-to-face interview is required.

The following verifications must be provided to fully process an application:

• Proof of Income
• Proof of Date of Birth
• Proof of Address
• Proof of Identity"

(Source MA Executive Office of Health and Human Services)