The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, Office of Nutrition Services today 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 in Hancock, Brooke, Ohio Marshall, Wetzel or Tyler counties call the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department WIC office at (304) 234-3888 or call (304) 558-0030.  More information is available online at http://ons.wvdhhr.org/.