WIC Disaster Response
(includes updates as of 11/27/06)

Key Information for Participants and Retailers/Vendors

Although the WIC Program is not designed to be a disaster assistance program, and therefore is not considered a first line of defense, WIC policies are designed to allow State agencies flexibility in program design and administration to ensure continuation of benefits to participants during times of natural or other disasters.  These policies include: 

§   Exempting applicants from the requirement for documentation of income, residency and identity when the documentation requirement would present an unreasonable barrier to participation.

§   Extending the certification period in cases where there is difficulty in scheduling appointments for breastfeeding women, infants and children who have not reached their fifth birthday. This policy is available for clinics that are experiencing a shortage of competent professional authorities to perform certifications.  In such cases, one month of food benefits can be issued to those participants until an appointment can be rescheduled.

§   Mailing WIC food instruments to persons who are not scheduled for nutrition education.

How to apply for the WIC Program

FNS Disaster Assistance

WIC Policy during Hurricane Katrina

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