HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Income guidelines for Alabama's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, more widely known as WIC, have increased. Officials believe the changes mean more people will be able to qualify for food assistance.
Under the WIC program, participants can receive benefits for each qualifying family member. Participants must have both a limited income and a nutritional need. In an announcement from the Alabama Department of Public Health, an increase in cash-value benefits will be available to purchase fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables. Each child will be eligible for a $25 benefit per month. Pregnant and post-partum women will get $44 per month, and breastfeeding women receive $49 per month.
This is in addition to the benefits provided to purchase shelf-stable items such as cereals, and fruit juices, milk and other staple grocery items.
Benefits are loaded onto a debit card.
Under the 2023 federal poverty guidelines, more families may be eligible for the program. WIC is open to participants with incomes up to 185 percent of the federal poverty level.
The increase means families who do not qualify for other programs such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families may be eligible for the WIC program.
Allison Hatchett, Alabama WIC Director, said, “WIC works with families to meet nutrition goals and provides healthy foods to support optimal growth and development. Nutritious foods help pregnant women have healthy babies and help children grow to become healthy adults. Alabama’s WIC Program understands the struggles many families face to establish healthy eating habits, and WIC is here to help women, infants, and children in Alabama.”