Skip to content
OwedFinder
FAQFood & Nutrition

How long can you get WIC?

WIC benefits last as long as you stay eligible. Your eligibility depends on your age, income, and nutrition risk—and these can change over time.

Program rules & income limits
  • Published Sep 18, 2026
  • Reviewed Sep 21, 2026
  • 2 min read
A toddler eating fruit in a high chair

How long you can get WIC depends on your situation. As long as you stay eligible, you can keep your benefits. But eligibility ends at certain ages and changes if your income goes up or nutrition risk improves.

Who can get WIC and for how long

WIC (the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) serves:

  • Pregnant women — until 6 months after you give birth (or up to 1 year if you breastfeed)
  • New mothers — up to 6 months after pregnancy (or up to 1 year if breastfeeding)
  • Infants — until age 1
  • Children — from age 1 until age 5

Once a child turns 5, they no longer qualify for WIC. Pregnant women and new mothers also stop qualifying after their time window ends.

Income and nutrition requirements

To stay on WIC, your income must stay at or below 185% of the federal poverty guidelines. If your income goes above this level, you'll lose eligibility.

You also must have a nutrition risk. A WIC clinic checks this when you apply and at your regular appointments. If your nutrition improves significantly, you may no longer qualify.

If you already get SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF, you automatically meet the income requirement for WIC.

What to do next

Apply at your local WIC clinic or agency. Applying is free, and only the agency decides if you qualify. A WIC clinic will check your income and nutrition risk to see if you're eligible.

WIC also provides nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to health care — not just food benefits.

Frequently asked questions

Can you get WIC while pregnant?

Yes. WIC serves pregnant women at any point during pregnancy and continues for 6 months after you give birth (or up to 1 year if you breastfeed).

What happens when your child turns 5?

Your child no longer qualifies for WIC once they turn 5. You'll need to look into other food assistance programs like SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program).

Does your income have to stay below the limit to keep WIC?

Yes. Your income must stay at or below 185% of the federal poverty guidelines to keep your benefits. If your income goes above this level, you lose eligibility.

Programs in this article

WICState-run · USDA Food and Nutrition ServiceWIC gives healthy foods, nutrition education and breastfeeding support to pregnant women, new mothers, infants and young children with low income.

Official sources

  1. USDA WIC Program

Last reviewed Sep 21, 2026. Found an error? Tell us.

Written by

Program rules & income limits

Researched from official agency sources and checked against our editorial policy.

Share this guide

Keep reading

All news and guides