Connecticut WIC is an assistance program that provides free supplemental foods, health care and nutrition education to low-income women and children within the state that have a nutrition risk due to medical or dietary conditions. Your local WIC office can assess your eligibility for the program as well as determine whether or not a nutritional risk is present. An application can only be submitted by contacting your local office and scheduling an appointment in which information on potential benefits will be further provided and your eligibility will be assessed.

When reviewing the WIC program, it is important to learn more about the benefits that are provided as benefits exceed food items that can be purchased on a monthly basis. Beneficiaries will have the opportunity to speak with nutritionists to discuss proper nutrition and dietary goals. Participants can get referrals from the program to find additional assistance for the cost of food, housing, clothing, health insurance and more.

What are the WIC requirements in Connecticut?

Before learning, “Where is a Connecticut WIC office near me?” it is recommended that you learn more about the program’s eligibility requirements in order to determine whether or not you or your family may be eligible to receive benefits. Perhaps the most prominent WIC eligibility requirement, the program will only provide benefits to groups of individuals such as:

• Women who are currently pregnant
• Women who are not breastfeeding may receive benefits up to six months after a pregnancy ends
• Women who are breastfeeding may receive benefits up to the baby’s first birthday.
• Infants and children up to age five years old

It is also worth knowing that foster parents, legal guardians, fathers and grandparents may all apply for a child who is under the age of five years old.

Further WIC qualifications include Connecticut residency, income limits and that there is a nutrition risk present. In order to receive benefits in Connecticut, you must be a resident of the state. You may also not be receiving assistance from another state’s program.

WIC provides assistance to low-income individuals and family that meet other requirements. While income guidelines are reassessed each year, limits are based upon the federal poverty line. However, you will automatically meet income related requirements if you are already receiving assistance from another program, such as TANF, Medicaid or SNAP (food stamps).

Finally, the last WIC eligibility requirement that you should be aware of is nutritional risk. Nutritional risk is defined by a condition that is brought on by a medical or dietary circumstance. For example, having a poor diet would be considered a dietary condition while conditions such as anemia, overweight and underweight would qualify as a medical condition.

How to Apply for WIC in Connecticut

In Connecticut, a WIC application may only be submitted in person. When learning how to apply for WIC, it is important to know that you must contact a local agency by phone in order to schedule an appointment. During this appointment, you will need to complete a nutrition assessment with staff, which will aid in the determination of whether you and your family is eligible to receive benefits. Your income and residency will also be reviewed and discussed while your eligibility is being determined.

To learn more about requirements, download our guide.

A WIC online application is not available in Connecticut at this time due to the strict rules on applying in person. You cannot apply by mail either and must instead schedule and attend an appointment at your local office. Walk-ins are not generally accepted.

What can you get with WIC in Connecticut?

Connecticut WIC benefits include, but are not limited to financial aid for the purchase of healthy foods. In fact, benefits include, but are not limited to:

• The opportunity to speak with a nutritionist or trained professional about your diet or the diet of your child.
• Breastfeeding information and support.
• The opportunity to meet and talk with other mothers.
• Referrals to health care, dental care and other social service programs such as SNAP, TANF and Medicaid.

Connecticut no longer provides WIC checks as the program now provides eWIC cards that can be used similarly to a debit card when purchasing authorized items. This provides numerous benefits as checkouts are generally faster, more efficient and you can obtain your balance on your receipt. With automatic monthly deposits, you will no longer be required to visit a local office on a monthly basis to pick up new checks.

You will be provided a WIC approved foods list once your eligibility for the program has been verified along with your eWIC card. It is very important that you review the list of foods that you may purchase carefully as only certain items can be purchased. Generally, you will be allowed to purchase items such as:

• Milk
• Yogurt
• Eggs
• Whole grain products
• Peanut butter
• Cheese
• Baby food
• Baby formula
• Breakfast cereals
• Fruits and vegetables
• Canned and dried beans
• Tofu
• Canned fish

How to Prepare for a WIC Appointment in Connecticut

Your Connecticut WIC appointment is a key step in receiving program benefits. This appointment will assess whether or not you or your child has a nutritional risk as well as determine your overall eligibility for the program and provide you further information about the program and the type of benefits that are provided. Therefore, it is very important to prepare for the appointment to the best of your ability and ensure that you have the required documentation to bring with you to the office. In addition to documentation, you must also bring any infant or child that you are applying for benefits for.

You must provide the WIC office with:

• Proof of identity for you and any child that you are applying for
• Proof of Connecticut residency
• Proof of your income

Note that is you do not have any income, you may fill out a form that states that you do not receive income.

Your first WIC appointment will take between one and two hours. After your initial appointment, you will need to schedule an additional appointment at the office every one to three months. Appointments after the first generally only take between 20 minutes to an hour.

How to Check Your WIC Balance in Connecticut

Whenever you use your WIC benefits in Connecticut, you will receive a receipt from the cashier that will provide you with your balance. However, current balances will expire at midnight on the last day of the month as benefits do not roll over from one month to another. Additionally, WIC staff members can print out a Family Benefits List with information regarding your food balance.

To learn more about checking your WIC balance and other details about applying and using WIC, download our helpful guide.