WIC - Women, Infants, & Children
What is WIC?
The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program provides access to healthy foods for growth and development and promotes food nutrition through education.
WIC benefits for food are provided free of charge to pregnant, postpartum, or nursing women, and for infants and children under the age of 5 who demonstrate a need as determined by WIC guidelines.
The WIC office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
It's located at 220 Green St. Albany, N.Y., 12202.
To speak with someone in the WIC office, call 518-432-4033.
WIC benefits make it easier for you to shop for healthy food, and can be used at participating grocery stores and farmers markets within New York State.
The WIC benefits cover foods including:
- Baby Food
- Brown Rice
- Canned Fish
- Cereal
- Cheese
- Dried or Canned Beans/Peas
- Eggs
- Fruit Juice
- Fruits and Vegetables
- Infant Formula
- Milk
- Peanut Butter
- Tofu
- Tortillas
- Whole Grain Bread
- Whole Wheat Pasta
- Yogurt
See a list of WIC-approved baby formulas in New York State.
Please review the household size and income per pay periods to help determine if you're eligible for WIC benefits:
Effective through June 30, 2023
Pregnant individuals count as two people
One person household:
Annual: $25,142
Monthly: $2,096
Twice-monthly: $1,048
Bi-weekly: $967
Weekly: $484
Two person household:
Annual: $33,874
Monthly: $2,823
Twice-monthly: $1,412
Bi-weekly: $1,303
Weekly: $652
Three person household:
Annual: $42,606
Monthly: $3,551
Twice-monthly: $1,776
Bi-weekly: $1,639
Weekly: $820
Four person household:
Annual: $51,338
Monthly: $4,279
Twice-monthly: $2,140
Bi-weekly: $1,975
Weekly: $988
Five person household:
Annual: $60,070
Monthly: $5,006
Twice-monthly: $2,503
Bi-weekly: $2,311
Weekly: $1,156
Six person household:
Annual: $68,802
Monthly: $5,734
Twice-monthly: $2,867
Bi-weekly: $2,647
Weekly: $1,324
Seven person household:
Annual: $77,534
Monthly: $6,462
Twice-monthly: $3,231
Bi-weekly: $2,983
Weekly: $1,492
Eight person household:
Annual: $86,266
Monthly: $7,189
Twice-monthly: $3,595
Bi-weekly: $3,318
Weekly: $1,659
For each additional person:
Annual: +$8,732
Monthly: +$728
Twice-monthly: +$364
Bi-weekly: +$336
Weekly: +$168
In the Capital Region, WIC has many convenient locations in Albany, Ravena, Berne, Knox, and Westerlo. The WIC office has evening appointments available. To find out if you are eligible for WIC and to begin enrollment, please call the WIC office at 518-432-4033.
For the month of March, WIC is celebrating National Nutrition Month! The goal is to educate and provide participants with the necessary tools to make informed food choices. This year's theme is Fuel for the Future. Eating with sustainability in mind not only helps keep us nourished, but also helps protect the environment.
Tips to reduce food waste:
- Plan meals based on the foods you already have on hand.
- Buy only the amount of fresh fruits, vegetables and meats that you can eat or freeze within a few days.
- Get creative with leftovers! Cut up leftover veggies or cooked meats and transform them into soups, salads, or sandwiches.
- Eat leftovers within three to four days.
- Store foods in the pantry so products with sooner expiration dates are up front.
WIC offers a variety of meal packages that are customized to the individuals' specific needs. While providing a meal package, WIC offers nutrition counseling, breastfeeding support, health education, and referrals to other agencies.
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 800)-877-8339. To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online from any USDA office, by calling 866-632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD[1]3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
Fax: 833-256-1665 or 202-690-7442; or
email: [email protected]
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
For other complaints or to request a Fair Hearing contact:
mail: WIC Program Director NYSDOH, Riverview Center 150 Broadway, 6th Floor, Albany, N.Y., 12204
phone: 518-402-7093;
fax: 518-402-7348; or email: [email protected]