DC WIC
Last updated August 2026
WIC gives free healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, referrals to care, and immunization screening. It serves pregnant and postpartum people, new parents, infants, and children up to age 5 who live in DC. DC Health runs it through local clinics. To start, complete the WIC prescreening tool, call your local WIC site, or reach the DC WIC team at (202) 442-9397. You can find site locations at dcwic.org/wic-locations.
The income line is 185 percent of the Federal Poverty Level, which is well above the SNAP cutoff. So a working family that does not qualify for food stamps may still qualify for WIC. Being on Medicaid, DC Healthy Families, SNAP, TANF, or the School Lunch Program helps you meet the income test.
Here is a key point for many families. WIC does not ask about or keep any information on visa status or citizenship, and all responses are kept confidential. WIC is open to moms, dads, grandparents, and foster parents who are raising a child under 5.
There is a bonus for fresh produce. From June to November, WIC provides fresh, local fruits and vegetables through the Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, and eligible families receive $30 for the farmers' market season.
Four health care providers deliver WIC across the city: Unity Health Care, Children's National Hospital, Mary's Center for Maternal and Child Care, and Community of Hope. Benefits are loaded onto a DC eWIC card, and new food packages with more shopping options took effect October 1.
Come to your appointment ready so one visit can finish enrollment. WIC adds to your grocery budget; it does not replace SNAP, and a household can hold both. A pregnancy is also a good time to apply for DC Medicaid or the DC Health Care Alliance.
Phone (202) 442-9397
Help available in English and Spanish.
Updated August 2026 Program details can change — confirm with the program directly.
Who qualifies
- Pregnant, postpartum, or breastfeeding people, and infants and children ages 1 to 5, who live in the District and have a nutritional need
- Family income within the WIC guidelines; being on Medicaid, DC Healthy Families, SNAP, TANF, or the School Lunch Program helps meet the income test
You may qualify. The program makes the final decision.
How to apply
- 1
Complete the WIC prescreening tool and request an appointment.
- 2
Call your local WIC site or DC WIC at (202) 442-9397; find sites at dcwic.org/wic-locations.
- 3
If you are on Medicaid, DC Healthy Families, SNAP, or TANF, you can meet the income test that way.
- 4
Bring ID, proof of your DC address and income, and the children you are enrolling.
- 5
Finish the visit to set up your DC eWIC card.
What to have ready
- ID for you and any child you are enrolling
- Proof of your DC address
- Proof of income, or proof of Medicaid, SNAP, or TANF. Your WIC site confirms the exact list.
What the application looks like
Common questions
Who qualifies for DC WIC?
DC residents who are pregnant, postpartum, or breastfeeding, plus new parents, infants, and children up to age 5, who meet the income guidelines of 185 percent of poverty.
Does WIC ask about immigration status?
No. WIC does not ask about or keep any information on visa status or citizenship, and all responses are kept confidential.
What does WIC provide?
Free healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, referrals, and immunization screening, plus $30 for fresh produce during the farmers' market season from June to November.
How do I apply?
Complete the prescreening tool and request an appointment, or call DC WIC at (202) 442-9397. Find local sites at dcwic.org/wic-locations.
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