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| The new eWIC card. |
Remember the days of WIC
checks, long check out times, and limited selections? I definitely do!
If you don’t know much
about WIC, you can learn more here.
WIC stands for Women, Infants, and Children and the program provides healthy
foods, nutrition information, and breastfeeding support to qualifying families.
We used to print out
paper checks for participants that would list several healthy food items to be
purchased at WIC approved
stores. Shopping with these WIC
checks was….. not always easy, to say the least! That all changed this past
September when the WIC program in New York got a huge upgrade.
- To start, no more paper checks! WIC foods are now loaded onto an EBT card called eWIC (a pretty card decorated with fruits and veggies). At the register, WIC foods are run through at the same time as other groceries. This makes it much faster and more private than the checks, which had to be processed as a separate transaction. With the checks, you had to purchase every item that was listed on the check at once, even if you didn’t need it all. The bottom line – eWIC allows you to purchase WIC foods with more flexibility and convenience, getting foods as you need them.
- New York State WIC also developed an app, WIC2GO, which you can download. WIC2Go links to your eWIC card and tracks WIC purchases so that they can easily see what foods they have left to buy. It also lets you see what foods are WIC approved. Not sure if something is WIC approved? No problem, simply scan the barcode before you even get to the register.
- Some things will stay the same, however. Our Farmers Market Coupons will remain as paper checks. Each participant will continue to get $20 once a year to spend on locally grown produce from our wonderful food growers. Thanks to all the farmers and markets that signed up this year!
It’s been about 9
months since we switched to eWIC and
the feedback has been great. Most of you are finding it much easier, faster,
and more discreet than shopping with the paper checks. It’s almost hard to
believe it was any other way now!
If it’s been a while
since you’ve looked into WIC you may be surprised with all that’s changed. The
food package has evolved over the years to include more choices , we
have more breastfeeding support on staff, and the income
guidelines have gone up. Having SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF is
an automatic qualifier but you don’t need them to get WIC if you meet the
income guidelines. Our guidelines are at
185% the poverty level; so many working families may still be eligible. In
fact, WIC serves 53% of the infants born the in the United States! If
you are not sure if you qualify for WIC, just give us a call (518-565-4830) and
we can chat with you.
Kara Lennon, IBCLC
Senior WIC Nutritionist
Health Care Services
Clinton County Health Department
