ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
The RSA Tower, 201 Monroe Street, P.O. Box 303017, Montgomery, AL

NEWS RELEASE / WIC income guidelines increase
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Allison Hatchett / (334) 206-5673

Alabama’s income guidelines for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (better known as WIC) have increased and additional people may qualify.  If you are a woman who is pregnant, has had a baby within the past six months, or are currently breastfeeding; or if you are the parent or guardian of a child up to age 5, you are encouraged to contact your local county health department or WIC agency to apply.

WIC participants may receive food benefits for each qualifying family member. Increased cash value benefits are available to purchase fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, with each child receiving $26 a month, pregnant and postpartum women receiving $47 a month, and breastfeeding women receiving $52 a month. Also addition to nutritious food benefits, also – WIC participants receive free nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and healthcare referrals.  

Alabama’s WIC Program provides electronic food benefits, making the shopping experience much easier.

Under the 2024 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.

Check the table below to see if your family may qualify:

 Family Size*            Annual Income

Weekly Income
2                             $37,814
$728
3                             $47,767
$919
4                             $57,720
$1,110
5                            $67,673
$1,302
6                             $77,626
$1,493

*Each unborn infant counts as one in the family size.
*For additional family sizes, visit www.alabamapublichealth.gov/wic.

WIC participants must have both a limited income and a nutritional need and families that receive Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) already meet the income qualifications for WIC. Even families who do not qualify for these programs may be eligible for WIC because of WIC’s higher income limits.

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.”

For more information, please go to http://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/wic or call the statewide toll-free line at 1-888-942-4673 (1-888-WIC-HOPE).