Minnesota WIC
Last updated August 2026
Minnesota WIC provides healthy food, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals for pregnant women, new mothers up to six months postpartum, breastfeeding women up to one year, infants, and children up to their fifth birthday. Start with the Minnesota WIC Online Application, or call 1-800-942-4030 to find your clinic.
The income line is 185 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. Effective May 2026 that is $2,461 a month for one person, $4,212 for three, $5,088 for four, plus $876 for each additional person. A working family fits under that line more often than people guess.
Two shortcuts make the income step easier. If your family is on Medical Assistance, MinnesotaCare, SNAP, MFIP, energy assistance, free or reduced school lunch, or Head Start, you are automatically income-eligible. And from July 2026, higher presumptive income limits let more families enroll while eligibility is confirmed, reaching $3,657 a month for one person and $7,563 for four.
One barrier that stops people does not apply here: U.S. citizenship is not required. Minnesota WIC states this plainly. You must live in Minnesota, but immigration status is not a gate.
Benefits arrive on a WIC card. Once approved, you must set a PIN before shopping by calling 833-566-5248, the same way you would activate a debit card. WIC food comes alongside nutrition counseling and breastfeeding help, so the appointment is worth the trip.
WIC adds to the grocery budget; it does not replace it. SNAP carries the core food budget and a household can hold both, and WIC staff connect families to other services. A pregnancy is also the moment to apply for Medical Assistance.
Phone 1-800-942-4030
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 up to age 5, who live in Minnesota and have a nutritional need
- Family income within the WIC guidelines; being on Medical Assistance, SNAP, or MFIP generally settles the income question, and a parent, foster parent, or guardian can apply for a child
You may qualify. The program makes the final decision.
How to apply
- 1
Start the Minnesota WIC Online Application, or call 1-800-942-4030 to find your clinic.
- 2
If you are on SNAP, MA, MinnesotaCare, MFIP, or energy assistance, you are automatically income-eligible.
- 3
Attend the appointment for the nutrition visit and to set up your WIC card.
- 4
Set your card PIN by calling 833-566-5248 before you shop.
What to have ready
- Proof of identity for you and any child you are enrolling
- Proof of Minnesota residence
- Proof of income, or proof of SNAP, MA, MinnesotaCare, MFIP, or energy assistance. Your clinic confirms the exact list.
What the application looks like
Common questions
Who qualifies for WIC in Minnesota?
Pregnant women, new mothers up to six months postpartum, breastfeeding women up to one year, infants, and children up to age 5, within 185 percent of poverty ($2,461 a month for one person from May 2026).
Do I need to be a U.S. citizen?
No. Minnesota WIC states that U.S. citizenship is not required. You must live in Minnesota.
Do I need income proof if I am on other benefits?
Not separately. Being on Medical Assistance, MinnesotaCare, SNAP, MFIP, energy assistance, free or reduced school lunch, or Head Start makes you automatically income-eligible.
How does the food arrive?
On a WIC card. Set a PIN before shopping by calling 833-566-5248, then use it at approved stores.
Not sure this is the right program for your situation?
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