I'm stupid - tell me all you know about WIC

bunnybean

Any info at all.

Thanks!

Elizabeth81

It gives women a certain amount of coupons per month to use on things like milk, bread, cheese, eggs, etc.

bunnybean

Ok, yeah I thought it was very specific welfare for women and children.

Just read a friend from high school's wife's blog, and apparently she gets it.  I had no idea.

Elizabeth81

In high school, a girl who got knocked up and had like 2 kids by junior year came in and gave our family living class a talk and went on and on about how wonderful the program is.

I think the amount you get depends on the number of kids you have, but I don't think the income requirements are as strict as the income requirements for welfare. I could be wrong about that, though.

bigapplebride

It stands for Women Infants and Children and is a nutrition program for low income women and young children (birth through age 5)

WIC provides vouchers for nutritious foods to pregnant and nursing women.  WIC also provides food vouchers for young children and infant formula for babies.

You have to meet certain income restrictions to be eligible for WIC but you don't necessarily have to be on welfare to meet the criteria..  Low income wage earners are often eligible for WIC.

bunnybean

You have to meet certain income restrictions to be eligible for WIC but you don't necessarily have to be on welfare to meet the criteria.

How is one eligible for welfare?  

brideymcbriderson

bunnybean:

How is one eligible for welfare?  

Varies by state.

kristinrae914

Majorwife is correct.  You also must continue to register multiple times a year.  While pg you are required to have weigh ins.  They require you to watch movies regarding nutritional information and how smoking affects pregnant women.  Once the child is born you have to bring your child for weigh ins, etc.  It is a program geared specifically toward low income women and there is an educational component to maintain the benefits.  The income restrictions are less stringent than welfare because a lot of people that qualify for WIC would not necessarily qualify for foodstamps, etc.

bunnybean

kristinrae914:

Majorwife is correct.? You also must continue to register multiple times a year.? While pg you are required to have weigh ins.? They require you to watch movies regarding nutritional information and how smoking affects pregnant women.? Once the child is born you have to bring your child for weigh ins, etc.? It is a program geared specifically toward low income women and there is an educational component to maintain the benefits.? The income restrictions are less stringent than welfare because a lot of people that qualify for WIC would not necessarily qualify for foodstamps, etc.

That actually sounds like a really cool program. ??

bigapplebride

I think WIC is one of the most useful government programs out there.  I work with homeless families and prior to that I worked with low income individals with HIV/AIDS so I'm familiar with a number of entitlement programs in this area.

I like the idea of making sure that young children and babies are able to obtain nutritious foods on a regular basis.  Sadly, when people get food stamps, they can shop for any "food item" in the store.  cookies, processed crap like "kid cuisine" frozen meals, sugar cereals etc.  With WIC you have to purchase the item on the voucher

gallon of milk

Cheerios

 peanut butter

eggs

orange juice

 

Also, I think eligibility requirements for welfare vary greatly by state (and possibly county).  you would hae to check with your local office to find out the requirements but it is generally based on income and resources (houses, cars, savings etc.)

In my area you basically have to be flat broke (they will make you spend down any of your resources before you can be eligible) but you are able to own a car with a blue book value of about $2500 and you can have a primary residence (they don't want people to purposefully lose their home to become eligible for a homeless shelter)

Sibil

A ton of military people are eligible b/c they don't count our benefits like housing which in some places I've lived was nearly 2k a month. ?There have been some nasty WIC posts on the military board, like from one woman saying she needed it because she also needed cable since she was in Japan with nothing to do. ?Note, she lived in a city of 3 million and a 20 minute train ride from Tokyo.

It's so common that at the commissary WIC eligible items are labeled. ?I've heard reports from pregnant friends that they basically push it on you, scare you into thinking that you can't provide for your kids properly unless you're on it.

In theory it's a really good program. ?I just really hate the abuses I've seen, and, worse, the justifications for the abuses, from the military community.?