Learn How to Apply for LIHEAP Assistance With Our Guide

The Utah Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program is a nutrition assistance program designed to provide benefits to low-income women, infants and children that meet eligibility requirements. Numerous benefits are provided to qualifying women and their children, including one-on-one nutrition education and counseling, personalized breastfeeding support, referrals to other public health programs and financial aid towards the purchase of nutritious foods that are essential for health and growth.

Your local WIC office will handle your application for the program as well as schedule follow-up appointments with you following your initial appointment. While your eligibility will be determined during this initial appointment, you are strongly encouraged to familiarize yourself with qualifications prior to that appointment in order to determine whether or not you may be eligible to receive benefits. The WIC program has eligibility that is determined by categorical, residency, income and nutritional risk-related requirements.

Learn how to apply for WIC when you download our helpful guide.

What are the WIC requirements in Utah?

While it is important to ask, “Where is a WIC office near me in Utah?” it is also recommended that you learn more about the program prior to scheduling an appointment. By learning more about benefits and eligibility requirements, you will know what to expect during the application process as well as the benefits you may be eligible to receive if your application is approved.

WIC eligibility includes categorical, residency, income and nutritional risk-related requirements. To meet categorical requirements, you must be one of the following individuals:

• A pregnant woman
• A woman who is postpartum and breastfeeding (up to one year from the birth of a child)
• A woman who is postpartum and not breastfeeding (up to six months following the end of a pregnancy)
• An infant
• A child who is under the age of five

You can apply for WIC for a qualifying child if you are a father or another form of legal caregiver or guardian.

There is a WIC program in every state within the U.S. and some U.S. territories to apply for benefits in Utah, you must be a resident of the state, regardless of where you are employed. If you live on the border of Utah, your home state will be determined by your residential address.

To meet WIC qualifications, you cannot exceed the income levels that are set by the state program. These income limits are reassessed annual as they are based upon the federal poverty line. Therefore, some states, such as Hawaii or Alaska, will have higher income limits. There are multiple tiers of income limits set for the various household sizes. When determining your household size, you may add one additional household member for each unborn child. It is also worth knowing that anyone currently receiving assistance from Medicaid, SNAP (food stamps) or TANF will automatically meet income-related eligibility requirements.

When you submit a WIC application, your local office will determine whether or not you pose a nutritional risk during your initial appointment. In order to receive benefits, a nutritional risk must be present, however, nutritional risk can be brought on by a number of dietary and medical conditions including anemia, low birth weight, poor pregnancy history or outcome, overweight, underweight and poor diet.

How to Apply for WIC in Utah

When learning how to apply for WIC, it is important to understand that you can only submit an application in person by contacting your local office ahead of time and scheduling an appointment. Therefore, it is important to learn more about this initial appointment, including what to expect, the documents that you will need to provide and the information you will receive during the appointment.

Online WIC applications are not available within Utah at this time. You may not apply for the program by mail or fax either as an in-person visit to a local office is required by the state.

What can you get with WIC in Utah?

There are numerous Utah WIC benefits available to eligible applicants, including, but not limited to:

• Breastfeeding support, education and encouragement
• One-on-one personalized nutrition education
• Referrals to other public health programs and health care providers
• Financial assistance towards the purchase of nutritious foods

If eligible, you will receive WIC checks for multiple types of food categories, based upon your nutritional needs and conditions such as pregnancy or whether or not you are breastfeeding. You will need to visit your local office each month in order to obtain new checks to use for the beneficiary periods. These checks will expire, making it important to use benefits prior to the expiration date that can be found on the face of the check. It is also worth knowing that the state of Utah is seeking to implement the use of electronic benefits in the future, which would then do away with the current paper check system.

Your WIC checks can only be used towards the purchase of authorized food items, so it is important to review your food list, given to you by your local office. Authorized purchases will be restricted by brands, sizes, additives and more ­— review these details carefully. If a food is not authorized, a check cannot be used for the purchase at checkout. Examples of the types of foods that you may be authorized to purchase include, but are not limited to:

• Canned fish.
• Breakfast cereal.
• Milk.
• Cheese.
• Eggs.
• Yogurt.
• Fruits and vegetables.
• Wheat products, such as bread and rice.
• Baby food and formula.

Discover more details about what you can buy with WIC when you download our comprehensive guide.

How to Prepare for a WIC Appointment in Utah

To apply for WIC in Utah, you will need to contact your local office and schedule an appointment. During your visit, you will be provided with more information about the program and your eligibility will be determined. Therefore, it is important to bring any children that may qualify for benefits with you to your appointment.

When attending your WIC appointment, you can also expect:

• Your height and weight to be measured.
• Simple health screenings, such as tests to determine the amount of iron in your blood.
• To speak with a health professional that will discuss health and nutrition with you. He or she will inform you whether or not you do qualify for benefits as well as provide you with a list of food items that you may purchase with checks.
• To receive your initial checks, if you are determined to be eligible for benefits.
• To schedule any follow-up visits to the clinic.

When submitting your WIC application during your appointment, you must be able to provide the following documents:

• Proof of identity
• Proof of address
• Proof of income
• Immunization for each of your children applying for benefits

How to Check You WIC Balance in Utah

Currently, WIC checks are used in Utah, so it is easy to review your current balance. You will be provided with multiple checks that are separated by food groups. You do not need to use all of your checks in one purchase. To review your current food balance, you may simply review the checks that you have remaining for the month. As mentioned previously, each check will have an expiration date listed on the face of the check.