Hamilton Health Center Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program

Hamilton Health Center’s Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Center in Harrisburg
WIC provides healthy food and a whole lot more!
WIC offers families:
• Nutrition education/tips
• Healthy foods at no costs
• Breastfeeding promotion and support
• Health and social service referrals
To find out the current WIC income guidelines go to www.pawic.com

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Are you looking for a WIC Office near you? Hamilton Health Center offers WIC services in the greater Harrisburg area.

The WIC Program has earned the reputation of being one of the most successful federally-funded nutrition programs in the United States.

PA WIC is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Call WIC

Common Questions Asked About WIC

What are the requirements for WIC?

• Participants must reside in Pennsylvania
• Must be a:
• Woman who is pregnant or had a baby in the past 6 months or 12 months if breastfeeding
• Infants and children under the age of 5
• Have a household gross income that does not exceed 185 percent of the U.S. Poverty Income Guidelines. For example, a family of four can earn up to $45,510 annually effective July 1, 2017, and be income eligible for the WIC Program.  Each unborn infant is included in the household size.
• Must also have a qualifying medical or nutrition risk, which is determined at the WIC certification appointment.

What are the income guidelines for WIC

• Must have a household gross income (before taxes) that does not exceed 185 percent of the U.S. Poverty Income Guidelines. For example, a family of four can earn up to $45,510 annually effective July 1, 2017, and be income eligible for the WIC Program.  Each unborn infant is included in the household size.

Note:

• Medical Assistance (MA), Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP — food stamps) clients are eligible, but must provide income documentation
• Foster children under 5 with the ACCESS card are eligible, and foster parent income is not required
• WIC does not require proof of citizenship or alien status
• The current WIC income guidelines can be found on the PA WIC website, PAWIC.com

What paperwork do I need for WIC?

For the first appointment and all recertification appointments, you will need to bring:

• Proof of Identity
• Your drivers license, photo ID card, passport or student ID
• Your infant’s birth certificate, crib card, or discharge paperwork
• Your child’s birth certificate, crib card or passport
• Proof of household gross income
• Proof of all sources of income for everyone living in the household (ex: pay stubs from the last 30 days, unemployment letter, child support, income tax return for self-employed persons only)
• ACCESS card (if applicable)
• Proof of Pennsylvania residency
• Document with name and current address such as driver’s license, utility bill or recent mail
• Immunization record for all children under 2 years old
• Your children under age 5
• Proof of pregnancy stating due date (if applicable)

Call your local WIC office if you have questions about what to bring.

How do you qualify for WIC?

• To qualify for WIC, a participant must be a Pennsylvania resident, be either a pregnant woman, breastfeeding woman up to 1 year, a woman up to 6 months post-partum, or an infant or child under the age of 5, including foster children. You must also meet the WIC income guidelines and bring all of the required documentation to your certification appointment.

How much money do you get for WIC?

• WIC is a supplemental food and nutrition program offering participants a monthly food package containing a variety of healthy foods. No cash value is assigned but rather a personalized food package containing foods that can be purchased at qualifying grocery stores using WIC checks. The specific brands and products are found in the WIC food list. The average value of a monthly WIC Food package is $65.00 for women, $105.00 for infants and $50.00 for children.

What foods are WIC approved?

• WIC provides specific foods to supplement the dietary needs of participants to ensure good health and development. Food packages typically include iron-fortified infant cereal, milk, cheese, eggs, whole grains, peanut butter, beans, fruits, vegetables, and juice, which can be found in the WIC Food List and Shopping Guide.

Can you buy diapers with WIC?

• No, WIC does not supply diapers. However, WIC does offer referrals to other local community agencies and programs that may offer assistance with diapers and other infant supplies.

What cereals can you get with WIC?

• WIC provides iron-fortified cereals, some being whole grain, as well as infant cereals at 6 months of age. The specific brands and products can be found in the WIC food list.

How many cans of baby formula do you get on WIC?

• WIC encourages mothers to breastfeed their infants if possible; however, WIC will provide infant formula to mothers who are unable to breastfeed. WIC is a supplemental program that does not provide all of the formula your baby will need in a month.  The amount of formula received will depend on the detailed food package prescribed by a Nutritionist.  For a standard infant formula, an infant may receive a monthly maximum of 9 cans from 0-3 months, 10 cans from 4-6months and 7 cans from 6-11 months.

Can you sign up for WIC online?

• Yes, you can apply for WIC online by completing a pre-application at: https://wic.health.pa.gov/pawic/OnlineApplication.aspx Your application will be sent to the local WIC office and a staff member will contact you to answer questions and schedule you an appointment.

Can you get WIC as a single father?

• Yes, a single father may receive WIC benefits for his children under the age of 5, but not for himself. Contact your local WIC office to schedule an appointment.

How often do you get WIC checks?

• WIC vouchers are issued to each participant at their WIC appointments for typically 3 months at a time. Appointments are needed every 3 months to follow-up on participant’s health and nutrition, and to issue new sets of WIC vouchers.

What assistance does WIC provide?

• The WIC program provides eligible pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants and children under age 5 with nutrition information, breastfeeding support, health screenings, vouchers for healthy foods and referrals.