WIC Income Limits 2026–2027: Who Qualifies & How to Apply

WIC — the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children — gives healthy food, nutrition help, and breastfeeding support to pregnant women, new mothers, babies, and young children with limited income. This guide covers the 2026–2027 income limits, who qualifies, what WIC provides, and how to apply through your state.

What Is WIC?

WIC is a federal nutrition program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service, delivered through state and local agencies. It is not a cash program and it is not the same as SNAP (food stamps). Instead, WIC gives you a set of specific healthy foods, plus nutrition counseling, breastfeeding support, and referrals to health and social services, according to SignUpWIC, the program’s official sign-up site.

WIC is free. No one who is eligible ever pays a fee to apply or to take part.

WIC Income Limits for 2026–2027

To qualify on income, your household’s gross income (before taxes) must be at or below 185% of the federal poverty guidelines, per the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. These limits are set each year in the Federal Register and apply from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 in the 48 contiguous states, D.C., Guam, and the territories.

Household size	Yearly income limit (185% of poverty)	Monthly income limit
1	$29,526	$2,461
2	$40,034	$3,337
3	$50,542	$4,212
4	$61,050	$5,088
5	$71,558	$5,964
6	$82,066	$6,839
7	$92,574	$7,715
8	$103,082	$8,591
Each additional person	+$10,508	+$876

Source: Federal Register, Vol. 91, No. 82 (April 29, 2026).

Two things to know when you count your household:

• A pregnant woman counts as at least two people (herself plus the baby she is expecting), which raises the income limit that applies to her.
• Alaska and Hawaii have higher limits because their poverty guidelines are higher. Check your state agency if you live there.

Who Qualifies for WIC?

WIC has four requirements, all set by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service:

• Category: You are a pregnant woman, a woman up to 6 months after your pregnancy ends (up to 1 year if you are breastfeeding), an infant, or a child up to their 5th birthday.
• Residency: You live in the state where you apply. You do not have to be a U.S. citizen to get WIC.
• Income: Your gross income is at or below the 185% limit for your household size (see the table above).
• Nutritional risk: A health professional finds you to be at “nutritional risk” — for example, from anemia, being underweight, or a poor diet. This is a free screening done at the WIC clinic; you do not need your own doctor to do it first.

You do not have to be the mother to apply. Fathers, grandparents, foster parents, and other guardians can apply on behalf of a child who qualifies.

Already on SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF? You meet the income test

If you or certain family members already take part in SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF, you are automatically income-eligible for WIC, according to the USDA. This is called adjunctive eligibility — it means you meet the income rule without a separate income calculation. Some states extend the same rule to families in CHIP or certain tribal programs. You still complete the other steps (residency and the nutritional-risk screening).

If you are new to these programs, our guides on SNAP (food stamps) and Medicaid walk through who qualifies and how to apply.

What WIC Gives You

WIC is more than groceries. Participants get, per the USDA and SignUpWIC:

1. Healthy foods. A monthly package of specific foods chosen for nutrition — fruits and vegetables, whole grains (bread, tortillas, brown rice), milk, cheese or soy alternatives, eggs, breakfast cereal, juice, beans or peanut butter, and canned fish for some participants. Babies get iron-fortified infant formula and, at 6–12 months, infant cereal and baby food.

• Foods are loaded onto a WIC card (or paper checks in a few states) that you use at approved stores.

2. Nutrition education and counseling — practical help with feeding your family and your own health.
3. Breastfeeding support, including help from peer counselors and, in many clinics, breast pumps.
4. Referrals to health care and other services, such as immunizations, prenatal care, and Medicaid.

How to Apply for WIC

Applying is free and usually happens in person at a local WIC clinic. Follow these steps, based on the USDA’s How to Apply guidance:

1. Find your local WIC clinic. Use the clinic locator at SignUpWIC.com or search for your state’s WIC agency. Every state runs its own WIC program.
2. Call to make an appointment. Tell them who in your family may qualify (yourself if pregnant or a new mom, plus any children under 5).
3. Gather your documents. You generally need:
   • Proof of identity — a photo ID for adults; a birth certificate, hospital record, or immunization record for infants and children.
   • Proof of where you live — such as a pay stub, lease, or bill showing your address.
   • Proof of income — recent pay stubs, or proof that you get SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF (which makes you automatically income-eligible).
   • Proof of pregnancy, if you are pregnant.
4. Go to the appointment. Staff will confirm your income and residency and do the free nutritional-risk screening (height, weight, and a quick finger-stick to check iron). Bring the children who are applying.
5. Get your benefits. If you are approved, your food benefits are ready to use right away, and staff explain how to shop with your WIC card.

Your local office can tell you exactly which documents it needs, so it is worth calling ahead.

The Bottom Line

WIC is a free program for pregnant women, new mothers, and children under 5 whose household income is at or below 185% of the poverty line — and if you already get SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF, you have already met that income test. It adds up to healthy food every month plus nutrition and breastfeeding support. If your family also needs help with groceries beyond WIC, see whether you qualify for SNAP, or find a local food bank through Feeding America.

Figures apply to the 48 contiguous states, D.C., Guam, and the territories for the 2026–2027 WIC year (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027); Alaska and Hawaii use higher limits.