If you’re interested in applying for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program, we encourage you to check your eligibility with the Benefits.gov Benefit Finder tool or use the shortened questionnaire on the WIC Program page. WIC is available at all Local Health Units in Arkansas, satellite clinics and four WIC-only Clinics. You can apply for and receive WIC in any county in Arkansas. If you have questions, or need more information about applying for WIC, please contact your local county health unit, or call the State WIC Office at 501-661-2508 or 1-800-462-0599, or e-mail. You must meet the requirements under the following sections to receive WIC:
Categorical
Income
Nutritional risk
Who is eligible for the WIC Program?
The WIC Program serves specific groups of women, infants, and children. The following individuals applying for the WIC Program are considered categorically eligible:
Pregnant women may be eligible throughout pregnancy and up to six weeks after the birth of the infant or the end of the pregnancy.
Postpartum women may be eligible for up to six months after the birth of the infant or the end of pregnancy.
Breastfeeding women may be eligible up to the infant's first birthday.
Infants may be eligible up to their first birthday. Children may be eligible up to their fifth birthday.
What is the income requirement for WIC?
WIC income guidelines are set at 185% of poverty and are revised each year. Applicant must provide proof of income. Examples are: current check stubs, W-2 forms, most current income tax return, proof of eligibility for Medicaid (including ARKids), TEA, SNAP (food stamps). Many applicants can be determined income-eligible for the WIC Program based on their participation in certain programs. These programs include individuals who:
Are eligible to receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, Medicaid, or for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF);
Have certain family members that are eligible to receive Medicaid or TANF; or
Are eligible to participate in certain other state-administered programs.
What is the nutrition risk requirement?
Before being accepted into the WIC Program, applicants must be seen by a health professional such as a physician, nurse, or nutritionist. This health professional will determine whether the individual has a nutrition risk. Having nutrition risk means that an individual has medical-based or dietary-based conditions, such as anemia, being underweight, or a history of difficult pregnancies. In many cases, nutritional risk can be established by the WIC clinic at no cost to the applicant. This information can also be obtained by another health professional, such as the applicant's physician. During these exams, the applicant's height and weight will be taken and bloodwork is done to check for anemia. Applicants must have at least one of the medical or dietary conditions on the state's list of WIC nutrition risk criteria to qualify for WIC.
Am I eligible for WIC?
Checking your eligibility for the WIC Program is quick and easy. Use the WIC Prescreening Tool, an online application intended to help potential WIC applicants determine if they are likely eligible for WIC benefits. After using the prescreening tool, users who may be eligible are provided with state-specific contact information for the WIC Program.
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