Welcome to WIC!

We're glad you're here and we want you to have a great experience using your WIC benefits! The 5 easy tips below will help you get off to a great start.

1. Activate Your Card

Use your WIC card every time you shop for your WIC foods!

Call 1-844-469-3264 to set up a 4-digit PIN. (It's on the back of your card.) Make sure it is a PIN that you will remember! Do not share it with grocery store staff. If you forget your PIN, you can reset it anytime by calling the number on the back of your card.

Keep your WIC card in a safe place. Do not throw it away. It's reusable! Your benefits will be added to the same card every month.

Text LOST CARD to 91997 if your WIC card is lost, stolen, or damaged to order a replacement. We'll mail a new WIC card to you.

🌟 This 8-minute video shows you how to use your card at the store!

2. Download the WIC App

Everything you need to know about your WIC benefits can be found in one easy place: the California WIC app !

The Food Balance screen shows which foods are available to you in the current month and which foods are available in future months. Remember to shop for all of your foods every month!

Use the WIC Food Scan to quickly scan barcodes as you shop. It will tell you if a food is WIC-approved and in your food balance.

Use the WIC Grocers button to find stores near you that take the WIC card. You might be surprised that some of your favorite stores accept WIC! (This is a great tool to use when you go out of town. Don't forget, you can use your card all over California.)

🌟 Use these buttons to

download the app to your phone

iPhone

Android

3. Check Your Food Balance

You will see foods in your WIC app Food Balance after your first appointment.

Buy all of your WIC foods every month. Foods for every family member signed up for WIC are loaded onto your card and listed together on the Food Balance screen in the WIC app. Food benefits are available for 30 days every month. Check the dates at the top of the Food Balance screen to find the first and last days to use your food benefits.

The WIC Food list includes fruits and vegetables, milk, eggs, beans, peanut butter, juice, cheese, yogurt, canned fish, baby food, infant WIC-approved cereal, WIC baby formula, and whole-grain foods like rice, bread, cereal, tortillas, and pasta.

WIC foods also include soy milk and lactose-free milk if you need it!

Did you know the WIC fruit and vegetable dollar amount is higher than ever? This increase is temporary through December 16, 2022. Please spend it! When you spend the full amount (choose fresh, frozen, or canned), you help make this increase permanent for all WIC families.

$25 each month for children ages 1-4

$44 each month if you're pregnant or had a baby less than 6 months ago

$49 each month if you're breastfeeding or chestfeeding a baby under 1 year old

4. Go Shopping!

Check for stores that accept WIC near you using the WIC Grocers button on the WIC App.

Take your WIC card to the grocery store.

Look for the WIC logo on store shelves to help you easily find WIC-approved foods. Sometimes WIC-approved foods don't have a WIC logo, so use the barcode scanner in your app to check.

Tell the cashier right away that you are using your WIC card. It's easier if you use your WIC card and enter your PIN before paying for other groceries. Remember to use your WIC card first, then your CalFresh card if you have one.

You can give your card and PIN to a trusted family member or friend to shop for you. It's great to have a support system! They can download the app and log in using your information to see the food balance (or, try texting them screenshots of your WIC Food Balance screen).

Understand your WIC foods in ounces and how to shop with your WIC card. Use this guide to help you purchase the right amount of foods issued in ounces to get the most from your benefits.

5. Sign Up for wichealth.org

Along with free foods, WIC gives parents the information they need to raise a healthy family. One-on-one WIC appointments are at least twice per year with a nutrition counselor who will ask about your family's health. They will answer your questions about feeding your kids and make sure you have all the resources you need.

In between your appointments with your nutrition counselor, your other appointments can be done on wichealth.org.

Sign up for wichealth.org today to access quick and helpful online nutrition lessons about pregnancy, breastfeeding, and raising kids who love healthy foods.

Check out wichealth.org's Health eKitchen for hundreds of recipes you'll love making with your foods from WIC!