Q & A •  CASHING W.I.C. CHECKS

W.I.C. is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children funded in part by the United States Department of Agriculture and the State of Maine Department of Human Services. The Program is open to all eligible persons regardless of race, sex, color, age, national origin or disability.

Questions & Answers

Q. What services will I receive on WIC?

A. At no cost to you, WIC provides:

• Special Food Instruments (WIC checks) to buy healthy foods

• Nutrition and health information help you and your family eat well and be healthy

• Nutrition counseling to help you make personal lifestyle changes

• Breastfeeding support to help you provide the best nutrition for your baby

• Information about other programs to help you find services in your community

Q. How long can I stay on WIC?

A. Eligibility for the WIC Program is generally checked every 6 months. This is called "recertification". If you continue to live in Maine and meet the income and nutritional risk guidelines, you could stay on WIC:

Breastfeeding Women: Up to 1 year after delivery
Non-breastfeeding Women: Up to 6 months after delivery
Infants and children: Up to age 5

Q. What is nutritional education?

A. Nutrition education, provided individually or in a group, is information to help you make wise health and food choices. Nutritionists will talk to you about food and how it affects your health.

Q. Why are only certain foods allowed on the WIC Program?

A. WIC foods, when added to a healthy diet, provide important

nutrients for pregnant and breastfeeding women, infants and children. WIC cereals are high in iron. WIC juices are 100% unsweetened juice, high in vitamin C. Beans, Peanut butter and eggs are good sources of protein. Milk and cheese provide calcium and vitamin D.

If you are a new mom, the WIC staff will encourage you to breastfeed. Breast milk protects your baby against many allergies and illnesses. Breastfeeding saves time and money. But if you choose not to breastfeed, infant formula is available for you. Ask the WIC staff for the brand of formula WIC can provide.

Check the WIC Approved Foods List for the brands of WIC foods you can buy.

Q. What is a WIC ID Folder?

A. Your ID Folder is just like an identification card. You must bring it to your WIC appointments and you must show it to the cashier when you are using your WIC checks.

The folder also contains the following information:

• Your certification date

• Your nutritional risk

• Your next appointment date

• Things you have to bring for your next appointment

If you lose your ID Folder or any of your WIC checks, you must call the WIC office right away.

Q. What do I do if I move in Maine or out of state?

A. Your ID Folder contains all the information you need to transfer to another WIC Program. If possible, let the WIC staff know you plan to move and someone will check your ID Folder for you.

Call the WIC Program in your new area. Tell them you are a WIC client and you want to transfer to their program. The WIC staff will tell you what to do.

Q. What is a proxy?

A. A proxy is the person you name to cash your WIC checks if you can't go to the store. The proxy's signature must be on the ID Folder and he/she must bring the ID Folder to the store.

It is your responsibility to be sure your proxy understands what foods to buy and how to use the WIC checks.

Your proxy cannot take your place at recertification appointments.

Q. What do I do if I lose WIC checks or they are stolen?

A. Lost or stolen WIC checks must be reported within 48 hours to the WIC office. The WIC staff will tell you if you can get new checks.

If you lose your ID Folder or any of your WIC checks, you must call the WIC office right away.

Q. What do I do with damaged or unused WIC checks?

A. Return all damaged or unused WIC checks to your local WIC office.

Q. What do I do with infant formula I can't use?

A. Return unused infant formula to your local WIC office.

Q. During a certification period, how  can be I taken off the WIC Program?

• Change anything on a WIC check.

• Use WIC checks that have been reported lost or stolen.

• Abuse or threaten to abuse WIC Program staff.

• Use WIC checks to buy non-WIC foods.

• Give false information to WIC staff.

• Miss 2 or more appointments in a row without calling to reschedule. When you call to reschedule your appointment the WIC staff is able to give your time to someone else. When you just don't show up it means fewer people are being served.

• Return food bought with WIC checks to the store for cash or credit. If you are getting too much food talk to the WIC nutritionist and she will change your checks.

• Return infant formula to the store for cash or credit, whether or not that formula was bought with WIC checks. If you are able to get formula from another source, you don't need to get formula from WIC too. Extra formula should be returned to the WIC office.

• Sell WIC checks or foods bought with WIC checks.

• Sell infant formula bought with WIC checks.

• Give WIC foods to people other than the participant.

• No longer meet the income guidelines.
    

Cashing WIC Checks

Read the back of your ID Folder before you go to the store.

WIC checks can only be used for certain foods. Check your WIC Approved Foods List before you go to the check out counter. Foods not on the list cannot be purchased.

Not all stores take WIC checks. Check with the WIC staff for the authorized WIC stores in your area.

Review the following before you go to the store:

The sections with the big numbers are explained below:

1. Participants ID number
2. The person receiving the WIC foods
3. The first day you can use the WIC check
4. The last day you can use the WIC check
5. The amount of food you can buy with the WIC check - you can buy less but no more
6. Food you can buy with the WIC check - look at the WIC Approved Foods List
7. The total price of the food purchased with the WIC check - you can fill in this number at the checkout
8. Your signature or your proxy's signature - sign at checkout

Q. How can I help the WIC Program work for me?

A. Keep your WIC appointments and be on time. If you need to cancel an appointment call at least 24 hours in advance.

• Fill out any papers for your appointment before arriving at the WIC office.

• Bring your ID Folder to your appointments and to the store.

• Bring the WIC Approved Foods List to the store.

• Report changes in name, address or telephone number to the WIC office immediately.

• Ask questions.

WIC Works!

The Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
Your local WIC Agency in downeast Maine is Downeast Health Services, Inc.

Persons who believe they have been discriminated against because of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability should write to the Secretary of Agriculture, USDA, Washington, DC 20250.

Our Team

• Trudy Lunt LPN, Program Director