WIC is available to low to moderate income pregnant, breast-feeding and
postpartum women; infants; and children up to age 5 who are at nutrition risk.
Individuals who work and have health insurance may be eligible. In order to
participate, these persons must meet the following criteria at each certification:
- Be a resident of Florida or receive health care in Florida. Undocumented immigrants are eligible to apply as long as they reside in the state.
- Be at nutrition risk. The assessment of nutrition risk is made by a nutritionist or other health professional, usually at the local WIC office, at no cost to the participant. Examples of nutrition risk conditions are:
- Abnormal anthropometric or hematological measurements
- Abnormal weight gain patterns or growth retardation
- Documented nutrition-related medical conditions
- Inadequate dietary intake
- Conditions that predispose a person to inadequate nutrition patterns such as lead poisoning, mental retardation, alcohol or drug abuse, or factors associated with high risk pregnancies
- Be income eligible - The family's income must not exceed 185% of the U.S. Poverty Income Guidelines. A person currently receiving Medicaid, Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), or Food Stamps automatically meets the income eligibility requirement regardless of actual gross income.
WIC Certification Periods
- Pregnant women are certified for their entire pregnancy and up to 6 weeks postpartum. At 6 weeks postpartum, they must reapply as a breast-feeding or postpartum woman.
- Breastfeeding women are certified every 6 months and are eligible until 12 months postpartum.
- Non-breast-feeding postpartum women are certified until 6 months postpartum.
- Infants are certified until their first birthday. At 6 months of age an infant assessment is conducted. At this time the infant's length, weight, and hemoglobin or hematocrit measurements are taken, and a reassessment of the nutrition risk is conducted.
- Children are certified every 6 months until they are 5 years of age. They are no longer eligible after their fifth birthday.
Refer all potentially eligible patients to the Miami Dade County Health Department
WIC Program Information and Appointment Line 786-336-1300.
The final determination of WIC eligibility will be made by staff of the local WIC office.
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