The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, Office of Nutrition Services has announced new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) income eligibility guidelines for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).
The new guidelines indicate a family of four can earn $45,510 and still qualify for WIC program benefits. This amounts to a $555 increase from last year, and will allow more West Virginia families to enroll in the program.
“Our goal is to provide nutritional services and information that help keep West Virginia families healthy,” said Dr. Rahul Gupta, State Health Officer and Commissioner for the Bureau for Public Health. “Currently, West Virginia WIC serves nearly 43,000 mothers and young children monthly. With the expanded income guidelines, we aim to serve even more families.”
West Virginia WIC serves 75% of all babies born in West Virginia. Families enrolled in the program receive nutrition education, breastfeeding education, nutritious foods, and access to maternal, prenatal and pediatric healthcare services that may otherwise be unavailable. The new income guidelines are:
| Household Size | Gross Income Weekly | Gross Income Monthly | Gross Income Yearly |
| 1 | $430 | $1,860 | $22,311 |
| 2 | $578 | $2,504 | $30,044 |
| 3 | $727 | $3,149 | $37,777 |
| 4 | $876 | $3,793 | $45,510 |
| For each additional family member add: | $149 | $645 | $7,733 |
To learn more about WIC services or how to apply for benefits, call your local WIC clinic or 304-558-0030. More information is available online athttp://ons.wvdhhr.org/.