Inflation Adjustments Raise WIC Income Eligibility

A family of four can earn $55,500 and still qualify for WIC benefits, according to the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR), Bureau for Public Health, Office of Nutrition Services. That’s an increase of $4,162 from 2022. These guidelines are adjusted for recent inflation over the past year. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the updated income eligibility guidelines for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children known commonly as WIC. 

“Our goal is to provide nutritional services and information that help keep West Virginia families healthy,” said Dr. Matthew Christiansen, state health officer and commissioner for DHHR’s Bureau for Public Health. “West Virginia WIC serves more than 36,000 mothers and young children monthly. With the expanded income guidelines, we can serve more families.” 

An additional 4,600 West Virginians could be served under the expanded WIC income eligibility guidelines. 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. West Virginia WIC serves 86 percent of all babies born in West Virginia. 

The new income guidelines represent 185 percent above the federal poverty level for all 48 contiguous states.

Visit here for more information about West Virginia WIC. And here for more information regarding new USDA WIC eligibility guidelines.