WIC Program for Native Americans

Native Americans, like millions of other people in the country, may at times experience financial difficulties. When that happens, it becomes challenging to pay the bills, or even to obtain food to help feed the family. The good news is there are programs that can help during these difficult times. One of the programs that can help provide people with food is one funded by the government, called Women, Infant and Children (WIC). The WIC program for Native Americans helps to ensure that people who meet the criteria get the nutrition assistance that they need.

WIC is a program that is open to everyone, including Native Americans. It’s made possible through funding from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Those who are approved to receive WIC benefits will get a monthly grant that can be used to purchase healthy food items at grocery stores, farmer’s markets, or other places that accept WIC payments. The program helps low income people who are considered to be at a nutritional risk.

Here are some important things to keep in mind about WIC for Native Americans:

• To be eligible to receive WIC benefits, you have to meet the low income requirements. This is based on the number of people in your family. Your family household income must be at or below 185 percent of the U.S. Poverty Income Guidelines.
• WIC is open to those who are pregnant, breastfeeding, non-breastfeeding postpartum women, or those who have children ages five and under.
• You must live in the state where you are applying for WIC. You may be asked to show proof of residency when applying for the program.
• The program is for those who are considered to be at a nutritional risk. This means that when you go to a WIC clinic to apply for the program, a nurse or clinician will evaluate you to see if you meet the criteria. There are two major types of nutritional risk that they screen for, which include a medically-based one (being underweight, anemic, having a history of pregnancy complications, etc.), and diet-based risks (inadequate pattern of eating).
• In addition to providing people with grants to purchase food each month, the WIC program for Native Americans also provides nutrition education and counseling, and screenings and referrals to other programs that may be of assistance.
• To apply for WIC, you need to make an appointment at your local WIC clinic. At the clinic, your health will be evaluated and you can apply for the benefit program. There are over 10,000 WIC clinic sites around the country, as well as 34 Tribal Organizations where it is available. Those who live on Tribal lands may be able to apply for the program through their local Tribal Office.
• WIC is considered a short term program. This means that those who are on it will graduate from it at the end of one certificate period. The time that most people are on it per certificate period is six months. Following the six month period you have to re-apply if you would like to continue receiving the benefit.
• WIC grants cannot be used to buy any type of food that you wish. Rather, it can only be used to purchase specific healthy foods. These include cereals, breads, milk, produce, infant cereal, infant formula, juice, yogurt, whole grains, and more. The produce can be frozen, fresh, canned, or dried. The program outlines specific food products that the benefit may be used to purchase.
• The WIC program is free for those who qualify, and the grants that people receive to purchase food do not have to be paid back.

Those who need assistance obtaining food may qualify for the help provided through the WIC program for Native Americans. To learn more, or to use the pre-screening tool to see if you are eligible for WIC, visit the USDA website. The pre-screening tool takes about 15 minutes to use, but it will let you know if you are eligible for the program. If you are, you will need to schedule an appointment at a WIC clinic near you, where you will apply and be evaluated to see if you meet the program guidelines.