The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children or WIC recently updated guidelines in Michigan, allowing people who earn a bit more to now qualify for the benefits.
The federally funded program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture allows participants to receive benefits through Michigan’s WIC EBT cards used at participating grocery stores and pharmacies.
The cards are used to buy food staples with a focus on health and nutrition, such as milk, eggs, bread, yogurt, whole wheat pastas, fruit, vegetables and infant formula.
The Kent County Health Department Program Supervisor Abby Bishop urges anyone who previously applied and was turned down for benefits to reassess and reapply to see if they qualify under the new guidelines.
The WIC program offers nutrition education, breastfeeding support, healthcare referrals, high-risk nutrition counseling, immunizations, and supplemental foods.
The new income eligibility guidelines went into effect June 1st.
For more information on WIC, go to www.accesskent.com/Health/WIC/ or call 616-632-7200
