Increase in the Cash Value Voucher for Pregnant, Postpartum, and Breastfeeding Women

The purpose of this memorandum is to notify WIC state agencies that the monthly value of the cash value voucher (CVV) for fruits and vegetables for pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women will increase from $10 to $11 beginning in fiscal year (FY) 2016 on Oct. 1, 2015. All CVVs issued to women on or after Oct. 1, 2015 must equal $11.  Women eligible to receive 1.5 times the amount shall receive $16.50.

Background
WIC regulations (7 CFR 246.16) require that the monthly value of the fruit and vegetable CVV shall be adjusted annually for inflation, with the adjustments effective the first day of each FY. The inflation adjustment of the fruit and vegetable voucher shall equal the percentage (if any) by which the annual average value of the Consumer Price Index for fresh fruits and vegetables, computed from monthly values published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, for the 12 months ending on March 31 of the fiscal year immediately prior to the adjustment year, exceeds the average of the monthly values of that index for the twelve months ending on March 31, 2007. If any increase in the cash value of the voucher determined under paragraph (j)(3) of this section is not a multiple of $1, such increase shall be rounded to the next lowest multiple of $1.

Calculated Increase
In FY 2016 the $10 CVV will be inflated by 11.7 percent according to WIC regulations.  Therefore, the CVV for pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women will increase to $11 in FY 2016. The CVV for children does not increase and remains at $8. 

Please contact your respective FNS office with any questions about the FY 2016 increase in the CVV for women.

DEBRA R. WHITFORD
Director
Supplemental Food Programs Division