WIC Eligibility Priority System

Sometimes WIC agencies do not have enough money to serve everyone who needs WIC or calls to apply. When this happens, WIC agencies must keep a list, called a waiting list, of individuals who want to apply and are likely to be served. WIC agencies then use a special system, called a Priority System, to determine who will get WIC benefits first when more people can be served. The purpose of the priority system is to make sure that WIC services and benefits are provided first to participants with the most serious health conditions.

Priority I: With Serious Medical Problems (such as anemia, underweight, history of poor pregnancy:

• Pregnant Women
• Breastfeeding Women
• Infants

Priority II:  Moms had serious medical problems

• Infants (up to 6 months of age) whose mothers participated in WIC or could have participated and had serious medical problems.

Priority III: With Serious Medical Problems

• Children

Priority IV: With Dietary Problems (like poor diet)

• Infants
• Pregnant Women
• Breastfeeding Women

Priority V: With Dietary Problems

• Children
• Priority VI - Any Nutritional Risk
• Postpartum Women

Priority VII

• Current WIC participants who without providing the WIC supplemental foods could continue to have medical and dietary problems.

*  State agencies can decide to place homeless and migrant participants in 
    Priorities IV-VII.
*  At State agency option, postpartum women may be placed in Priorities 
    III-V.
*  Any priority can be subdivided into subcategories of risk, using factors 
    such as income or age.

Click here to go back for more information about how to apply.

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