WIC Nutrition Program

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Need help? If you have difficulty understanding English or have a disability, free language assistance or other aids and services are available upon request. Please contact your Local WIC Clinic agency for more information.

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ATTENTION

Since 2020, Maine WIC has followed special COVID-19 waivers that gave participants flexibility in how they use their WIC food benefits. With the end of the public health emergency (PHE), this will be changing.

Eggs:

During the PHE eggs could be bought in sizes smaller and larger than the standard dozen (12). With the PHE ending, egg redemption will return to pre-COVID-19 rules. Buying one dozen eggs will debit your eWIC account by (1) dozen eggs.

Cheese:

Buying cheese will be on an ounce for ounce basis. If you purchase ½ pound of cheese (8oz), your eWIC balance will be reduced by that exact value.

Whole Grains:

Buying whole grains will be like cheese - the package size you buy will remove the exact ounces from your eWIC household balance. For example, if you have 32oz in your beginning balance and you purchase a package size equal to 12oz, your leftover household total would be 20oz. There are many options of product sizes you can mix and match to make sure you use your entire benefit.

WIC provides complete nutrition care for thousands of Maine families, helping Maine kids to grow up strong and healthy. WIC food benefits are available based on income guidelines and up-to-date nutrition research. This website seeks to serve all Maine families with free nutrition advice, tips for staying healthy, and resources for growing families, including breastfeeding and chestfeeding information and support.

Maine WIC is excited to announce that the 2023 Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) will start on Saturday, July 1st. Children aged 12 months and older, as well as pregnant and postpartum participants, will automatically receive $30 in Farmers Market Nutrition Program benefits. These one-time benefits can be spent between July 1st and October 31st with eWIC certified farmers on Maine grown fruits and vegetables. Participants will need to download the bnft app or visit mybnft.com to create an account – farmers cannot accept eWIC cards, so participants will need to set up the bnft app or bring a printed barcode from mybnft.com before they shop! If you use mybnft.com to print your barcode, click here to learn about new changes to the website.

If you use the bnft app, please click here to learn about new changes to the app (pdf).

To learn how to set up your bnft account, click here (PDF) or view our video guide.

eFMNP 2023 - 1

Who can apply for the Maine WIC Nutrition Program?

WIC is open to anyone living in Maine, including migrants working in Maine. Applicants can be any of the following:

  • Women and birthing parents who are pregnant, breastfeeding, chestfeeding, or had a baby in the last six months.
  • Infants and children up to the age of five, including adopted and foster children.
  • Non-birthing parents or guardians may apply for their children.

How do I apply?

You can call your nearest WIC office to make an appointment. Your first appointment will take about an hour of your time – an hour that can benefit you and your children for the rest of your lives.

**NEW** Contact Us to Join WIC! and a WIC staff member will call you to set up an appointment.

WIC Prescreening Tool

Use the Prescreening Tool to see if you may be eligible for the WIC Program.

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