The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children–better known as the WIC Program–serves to safeguard the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk. The program provides nutritional assessment and education, referrals to health care and nutritious foods to supplement diets.
The Meriden WIC office is located at the Meriden Health Department, 165 Miller Street. Last year the Meriden office, which is part of Region 7 (Meriden, Wallingford, and Middlesex area), served 4400 clients in 25 communities including Meriden, Wallingford and Middletown.
Who is eligible for WIC?
- Pregnant women (through pregnancy and up to 6 weeks after birth or after pregnancy ends).
- Breastfeeding women (up to infant’s 1 st birthday).
- Nonbreastfeeding postpartum women (up to 6 months after the birth of an infant or after pregnancy ends).
- Infants (up to 1st birthday). WIC serves 45 percent of all infants born in the United States.
- Children up to their 5th birthday (fathers, grandparents, foster parents or other guardians may apply for WIC for their children).
Participants must also:
- Meet the income guidelines posted below, which are set at or below 185% of the federal poverty income limit (WIC counts an unborn infant as a household member).
- Be at nutritional risk; WIC uses 2 broad categories of risk: medically based such as low birth weight and diet based, such as poor eating habits.
- Live in Connecticut.
Below is the chart for income eligibility for the period of April 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013:
Family Size
Annual
Monthly
Twice- Monthly
Bi-Weekly
Weekly
1
$20,665
$1,723
$862
$795
$398
2
27,991
2,333
1,167
1,077
539
3
35,317
2,944
1,472
1,359
680
4
42,643
3,554
1,777
1,641
821
5
49,969
4,165
2,083
1,922
961
6
57,295
4,775
2,388
2,204
1,102
7
64,621
5,386
2,693
2,486
1,243
8
71,947
5,996
2,998
2,768
1,384
For each additional family member add:
7,326
611
306
282
141
* Based on HHS Federal Poverty Guidelines.
For example, a family of four can make up to $42,643 gross income (before taxes) a year to be income eligible.
WIC is an equal opportunity program. Persons who believe they have been discriminated against because of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability should write to the Secretary of Agriculture, USDA, Washington, D.C. 20250.
For more information on the Meriden WIC program please call 203-630-4245.
