Am I Eligible?

Who is eligible for the WIC Nutrition Program in Maine?

Pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, and infants and children up to age 5 are eligible. They must meet income guidelines, live in Maine, and be individually determined to be at "nutrition risk" by a health professional.

To be eligible on the basis of income, applicants' income must fall at or below 185 percent of the U.S. Poverty Income Guidelines (currently $44,863/year for a family of four). A person who receives MaineCare, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits automatically meet the income eligibility requirement.

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

Income Guidelines

For the period of June 1, 2019-June 30, 2020, please see Updated Income Eligible Guidelines (Word).

If you are pregnant, you may count yourself as two household members. Individuals who are certified as eligible for MaineCare, TANF or SNAP are considered automatically income-eligible for WIC.

What is "nutrition risk?"

Two major types of nutrition risk are recognized for WIC eligibility:

• Medically-based risks such as anemia, underweight, overweight, history of pregnancy complications, or poor pregnancy outcomes
• Dietary risks, such as failure to meet the dietary guidelines or inappropriate nutrition practices

Nutrition risk is determined by a health professional such as a physician, nutritionist, or nurse, and is based on Federal regulations. This nutrition assessment is free to program applicants.