May 19, 2006
WIC Income Eligibility Guidelines Updated
The Montana WIC Program--a supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children--has updated its income eligibility guidelines effective this month.
The WIC program provides nutrition education and supplemental food to low-income women who are pregnant, who have recently given birth, or who are breastfeeding. It also serves children up to the age of 5. To be eligible, women and children must meet income guidelines and state residency requirements, and they must be determined by a health professional to be at “nutrition risk.”
In Montana, WIC serves about 4,500 women and 15,000 children a month.
Income eligibility guidelines for WIC are revised each year to reflect changes in the federal poverty guidelines. The new WIC eligibility limits, effective May 1, reflect 185 percent of federal poverty guidelines and are based on gross income:
Household size |
Annual |
Monthly |
2x Month |
Bi-weekly |
Weekly |
1 |
$18,130 |
$1,511 |
$ 756 |
$ 698 |
$ 349 |
2 |
$24,420 |
$2,035 |
$1,018 |
$ 940 |
$ 470 |
3 |
$30,170 |
$2,560 |
$1,280 |
$1,182 |
$ 591 |
4 |
$37,000 |
$3,084 |
$1,542 |
$1,424 |
$ 712 |
5 |
$43,290 |
$3,608 |
$1,804 |
$1,665 |
$ 833 |
6 |
$49,850 |
$4,132 |
$2,066 |
$1,907 |
$ 954 |
7 |
$55,870 |
$4,656 |
$2,328 |
$2,149 |
$1,075 |
8 |
$62,160 |
$5,180 |
$2,590 |
$2,391 |
$1,196 |
Each Additional |
+$6,290 |
+ $525 |
+ $263 |
+ $242 |
+ $121 |
In some cases, an unborn child may be counted as part of the family for income eligibility purposes.
The federal government funds state and tribal WIC programs through the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. Recipients of Medicaid, SNAP and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) automatically meet WIC income requirements. The program does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.
For more information on eligibility requirements or to find out how to contact the local WIC clinic nearest you, call 1-800-433-4298.
Page last updated: 06/13/2006
