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Glossary

WIC nutrition risk

A health condition that makes you eligible to receive WIC benefits.

WIC (the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) requires that applicants have a "nutrition risk" to qualify.

Nutrition risk means a health professional at a WIC clinic has found that you or your child has a diet-related health problem or condition. This might include anemia, being overweight or underweight, high blood pressure, or not getting enough key nutrients.

The WIC clinic checks for nutrition risk as part of the application process. This is one reason why you must be seen by a WIC clinic to apply—the staff assess your nutritional health and determine if you qualify. If you get SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF, you automatically meet WIC's income requirement of 185% of the federal poverty guidelines, but you still need to show nutrition risk to be approved.

Only the WIC agency decides whether you have nutrition risk and qualify for benefits.

Programs where this matters

MedicaidCenters for Medicare & Medicaid ServicesMedicaid is free or low-cost health coverage run by each state with federal funding, for children, adults, pregnant people, older adults and people with disabilities.SNAPUSDA Food and Nutrition ServiceSNAP gives monthly benefits on an EBT card to help households with low income buy food.WICUSDA Food and Nutrition ServiceWIC gives healthy foods, nutrition education and breastfeeding support to pregnant women, new mothers, infants and young children with low income.TANFHHS Administration for Children and FamiliesTANF gives cash help and support services to families with children who have low income. Each state runs its own program.