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WIC Disaster Response
Although the WIC Program is not designed to be a disaster assistance
program, and therefore is not considered a first line of defense, WIC
policies are designed to allow State agencies flexibility in program
design and administration to support continuation of benefits to
participants during times of natural or other disasters.
What does this mean if you are a WIC Participant?
If you live in an area where a weather-related or other type of
disaster has occurred or is about to occur, and you have been asked or
required to leave your home with very little advance notice, you may
still be able to receive WIC benefits for yourself and/or your young
children. WIC participants in your situation are called “evacuees." To
make it easier to register and obtain benefits in any State, you should
know that:
- Evacuees have been designated as being at special nutrition risk
and therefore will receive high priority for certification.
- Evacuees do not have to present proof of identity, residency or
income that is normally required (that is, if you had to leave home
in such a hurry that you were unable to bring the necessary
documents with you, or if those documents were destroyed).
- Evacuees may be able to use their original WIC checks or
vouchers in the State to which they have been relocated. Your WIC
State agency will find a way to let you know if this is the case,
usually through a toll-free telephone number and/or other public
announcements. Contact information for State WIC agencies can be
found on our website:
http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/contacts/statealpha.htm
What does this mean if you are an authorized WIC vendor or
retailer?
- Your store may be allowed to accept out-of-State food
instruments during disaster situations. Your State WIC office will
advise you if this is allowed.
- If at all possible, the participant should receive the exact
brand of infant formula specified on the out-of-State food
instrument.
- If it is not possible to provide the exact brand items for the
other foods listed on the out-of-State WIC food instrument, you may
substitute a similar item from your own State’s WIC-approved food
list.
- The originating WIC State Agency (i.e., the WIC State agency in
which the participant was initially certified) is responsible for
the cost of the food instrument. As the out-of-State vendor, you
should deposit each WIC check into your bank account; the amount of
the WIC check will be charged against the originating WIC State
Agency’s bank account. If the originating WIC State agency issues
vouchers instead of checks, you (the out-of-State vendor) should
submit the vouchers for payment to the originating WIC State agency.
- Mississippi and Vermont retailers are not covered by this policy
because there are no authorized WIC vendors in these States. The WIC
Programs in these States do not operate through grocery stores,
which is why there are no authorized vendors.
What does this mean if you are a WIC State agency?
Please click on the following link for more specific information
regarding WIC operations during disaster situations:
Detailed WIC Policy Guidance
for State Cooperators in Disaster Situations
Other information that may be helpful to you:
How to apply for the WIC Program
CDC's
Emergency Planning Tips If You're Pregnant or Have Young Children
State agency contact
information
WIC State agency toll-free
numbers
FNS Disaster Assistance
Where to find help :
FEMA's
Guide
to Disaster Recovery Resources at
www.disasterhelp.gov
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