WIC and Nutrition for Families

Toddler eating apple

WIC-Women Infant Children is a federally-funded program implemented by the Chicago Department of Public Health that provides pregnant, breastfeeding, postpartum women, children, and infants with nutrition assistance. WIC is a special nutrition program that assists*:

  • Pregnant, breast-feeding or post-partum women
  • Infants up to one year of age
  • Children up to 5 years of age

*Participants must both be low income and at nutritional risk

The WIC program provides the following benefits:

  • Nutrition counseling
  • Breastfeeding counseling
  • Monthly benefit card to purchase special healthy foods - like fruits, vegetables, milk, juice, eggs, cheese, cereal, whole grains, dry beans or peas, and peanut butter
  • Infants receive infant formula and as they get older, cereal and baby food
  • Health care referrals

Contact one of the WIC locations near you to get started!  Click here to view a list of WIC locations.

WIC Overview

Applying for WIC

To apply for WIC benefits, bring the following to a WIC Location:

  • Identity Document for Women/Caregivers and Children
  • Proof of Income
  • Proof of Address
  • Other

To qualify for WIC, you must meet income guidelines.

Acceptable Documents for WIC

ID For Women And Caregivers

  • Current Driver’s License
  • Government Issued ID
  • Passport
  • Tax Forms
  • Social Security Card
  • School or Work Photo ID
  • Birth Certificate

ID For Children

  • Birth Certificate (Legal or Hospital)
  • Immunization Record
  • Hospital ID Bracelets
  • Crib Card
  • Social Security Card

Income

  • Current check stubs (recent 30 days)
  • Social Security Benefits
  • Public Assistance payments/ Unemployment compensation
  • Alimony or Child Support Payments
  • Regular Contributions from persons not living in the household
  • W2s
  • Medicaid, SNAP or TANF Notice of Decision Letter, with current dates and information
  • Foster parents may provide written documentation from the Department of Children and Family Services

Address

  • Current piece of mail (less than 60 days old))
  • Rental agreement
  • Federal or State issued identification, that includes residence may be used with self-declaration of the applicant that the address listed is current and correct.
  • Current Department of Child & Family Services (DCFS) foster parent placement papers

For Pregnant Women

  • Confirmation of pregnancy from your healthcare provider

Other

Please refer to the back of your yellow WIC book if you are a returning client.

For more information please call the Chicago Department of Public Health at 312.747.9140.

Discrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant's name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

  1. Mail:
    • U.S. Department of Agriculture
    • Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
    • 1400 Independence Avenue, SW
    • Washington, D.C. 20250-9410
    or
  2. Fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442
    or
  3. Email: program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.