Massachusetts WIC provides monthly food benefits, nutrition counseling, and breastfeeding support to pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children under age 5 whose household income is at or below 185% of the federal poverty level. To apply, you submit the short online pre-application at mass.gov/forms/apply-for-wic-online or call 1-800-942-1007, wait for your local WIC program to contact you (usually within one to two business days), and then attend a certification appointment with proof of identity, Massachusetts residency, and income. If anyone in your household already has MassHealth, SNAP, or TAFDC, you automatically meet the income test and can skip the income paperwork.
Massachusetts WIC is run by the Nutrition Division of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and delivered through roughly 30 local WIC programs operating clinics inside community health centers, hospitals, and nonprofit agencies across the Commonwealth. There is no single statewide office to walk into. Which clinic serves you, what hours it keeps, and whether it offers remote appointments all depend on your ZIP code. This guide covers who qualifies, the income limits in effect for the 2026-2027 program year, and the exact steps to get enrolled.
Who Qualifies for WIC in Massachusetts
WIC eligibility comes down to four things: your category, your income, Massachusetts residency, and a nutritional risk assessment done at your appointment. You do not need to be a US citizen, and immigration status is not a barrier to WIC.
You may qualify if you are:
- Pregnant (at any point during pregnancy)
- Postpartum and breastfeeding (until your baby turns 1)
- Postpartum and not breastfeeding (up to 6 months after delivery)
- Someone who recently experienced a pregnancy loss
- An infant (birth to 12 months)
- A child ages 1 to 5 (up to the 5th birthday)
- A father, grandparent, foster parent, or other primary caregiver applying on behalf of an eligible child
Caregivers who are not the biological parent can apply for and manage a child's WIC benefits. A grandfather raising a 2-year-old, or a foster parent with a newborn placement, can enroll that child even if he is not applying for himself.
There is no work requirement, no asset test, and no minimum length of residency in Massachusetts. You only need to live in the Commonwealth at the time you apply.
Massachusetts WIC Income Limits 2026
Massachusetts uses the federal WIC income eligibility guidelines set at 185% of the federal poverty level. The table below reflects the guidelines effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, published by USDA in the Federal Register on April 29, 2026. WIC counts gross income (before taxes and deductions), not take-home pay.
| Household Size | Annual Income | Monthly Income | Weekly Income |
|---|
| 1 | $29,526 | $2,461 | $568 |
| 2 | $40,034 | $3,337 | $770 |
| 3 | $50,542 | $4,212 | $972 |
| 4 | $61,050 | $5,088 | $1,175 |
| 5 | $71,558 | $5,964 | $1,377 |
| 6 | $82,066 | $6,839 | $1,579 |
| 7 | $92,574 | $7,715 | $1,781 |
| 8 | $103,082 | $8,591 | $1,983 |
| Each additional person | +$10,508 | +$876 | +$203 |
These limits rose from the prior program year. A family of four could earn $59,478 under the 2025-2026 guidelines and can now earn $61,050. A family of three went from $49,303 to $50,542. If a Massachusetts WIC program told you last year that you were slightly over income, it is worth applying again.
If you are pregnant, your unborn child counts as a household member. A pregnant woman living alone is a household of two for WIC purposes, which raises her limit from $29,526 to $40,034 a year. A pregnant woman expecting twins counts as a household of three.
Local WIC staff can also calculate your income the way that helps you most, using a weekly, biweekly, monthly, or annual figure. Seasonal workers, people paid in tips, and households with irregular hours often qualify on a current-income basis even when last year's tax return looks too high.
Automatic (Adjunctive) Eligibility
You do not need to document income separately if you or anyone in your household is enrolled in:
- MassHealth (Massachusetts Medicaid), including MassHealth Standard, CarePlus, and Family Assistance
- SNAP, delivered on the Massachusetts EBT card
- TAFDC, Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children, the state's cash assistance program
Bring your MassHealth card, your EBT card, or an approval letter to your appointment and the income step is finished. This is the fastest route through the application, and a large share of Massachusetts WIC participants come in this way. Note that a MassHealth card belonging to any household member counts, not just the person being certified. If your toddler has MassHealth but you do not, that still establishes income eligibility for your pregnancy certification.
What Massachusetts WIC Covers
Approved participants receive a Massachusetts WIC Card, an eWIC card that loads automatically each month with a food package tailored to the participant's category and age. It works like a debit card at any WIC-authorized store in Massachusetts, and it is separate from your SNAP EBT card.
Covered foods include:
- Milk, cheese, and yogurt
- Eggs
- Whole grain cereal, bread, tortillas, brown rice, and oats
- Fruits and vegetables, through a monthly Cash Value Benefit
- 100% juice
- Peanut butter, dried or canned beans, or tofu
- Canned fish for fully breastfeeding mothers
- Infant formula, infant cereal, and baby food
Beyond food, Massachusetts WIC provides individual nutrition counseling with a registered dietitian or nutritionist, breastfeeding support including peer counselors and breast pumps, height, weight, and hemoglobin screenings, and referrals to MassHealth, SNAP, immunizations, dental care, early intervention, and Head Start.
Massachusetts also runs the WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, a seasonal summer benefit that gives participating families coupons to spend on fresh fruits and vegetables at approved Massachusetts farmers' markets and farm stands. Participants over 4 months old are eligible. The benefit is limited and distributed by local programs, typically starting in early summer, so ask your clinic when it opens rather than waiting to be contacted.
How to Apply for WIC in Massachusetts: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Submit the Online Pre-Application
Go to mass.gov/forms/apply-for-wic-online and fill out the short form. It asks for your contact information, your ZIP code, your preferred language, how you want to be contacted, and the best time to reach you. It is not the full application and it does not ask for income documents.
Your submission is routed automatically to the local WIC program that covers your ZIP code, and staff there generally reach out within one to two business days to schedule your certification appointment.
If you would rather not use the form, call the statewide WIC information line at 1-800-942-1007, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Staff can tell you which local program serves you and connect you directly.
Step 2: Find Your Local WIC Program
Massachusetts WIC is delivered by local programs based in community health centers, hospitals, and nonprofits, with clinic sites in every region of the state. Use the location finder on the Department of Public Health WIC pages at mass.gov, or ask the statewide line.
Do not try to apply for WIC through DTAConnect. That portal handles SNAP and TAFDC applications. WIC certification runs entirely through your local WIC program, not the DTA benefits system.
Step 3: Schedule Your Certification Appointment
Call or reply when your local program contacts you and book the appointment. Many Massachusetts clinics offer evening and Saturday hours, and some run partial or full remote certifications by phone or video for follow-up visits. Ask two questions when you call: whether the first visit has to be in person because of the height, weight, and hemoglobin measurements, and whether you can email or upload your documents ahead of time. Plan for the initial appointment to take about an hour.
Step 4: Gather Your Documents
Bring all three categories of proof:
- Proof of identity for every person being enrolled: driver's license, Massachusetts ID, passport, birth certificate, MassHealth card, hospital or crib card for a newborn, immunization record, or a work or school ID
- Proof of Massachusetts residency: a recent utility bill, lease or mortgage statement, or any official mail showing your current address
- Proof of income, unless you are adjunctively eligible: pay stubs from the last 30 days, an employer letter, a recent tax return, self-employment records, or an unemployment, child support, or Social Security award letter
- Proof of pregnancy if applicable, such as a note from your prenatal provider or a due date confirmation
If you receive MassHealth, SNAP, or TAFDC, bring that proof instead of income documents.
If you are staying with family, in a shelter, or in transitional housing and cannot produce a utility bill or lease, tell the clinic when you call. Homelessness is not a barrier to WIC, and staff can accept alternative proof of residency or a statement.
Step 5: Attend the Appointment
A WIC nutritionist reviews your documents, measures height and weight, and does a quick finger-stick hemoglobin check to screen for anemia. You will answer questions about your family's eating habits and health history. This is the nutritional risk assessment, and it is also the part of the visit that has actual value beyond the food benefit.
Most applicants who meet the income test clear this step. The qualifying risk categories are broad and include pregnancy itself, low iron, being underweight or overweight, limited dietary variety, a history of a diet-related condition in the family, and premature birth.
Step 6: Get Your WIC Card and Start Shopping
If approved, you leave with a Massachusetts WIC Card loaded with your first benefit period, usually at that same visit. Download the free WICShopper app for iPhone or Android and register your card. The app scans product barcodes in the aisle to tell you instantly whether an item is covered, shows your current benefit balance, lists nearby WIC-authorized stores, and displays your appointment schedule.
Benefits load on the same date each month and do not roll over, so unused amounts expire at the end of your benefit period. Check the balance before you shop.
Step 7: Keep Your Appointments and Recertify
Certification periods vary by category. Infants are generally certified through their first birthday, children ages 1 to 5 are recertified roughly every six months, pregnant women are certified through pregnancy plus a postpartum window, and breastfeeding mothers can be certified until the baby turns 1. Your local program contacts you before your certification expires. Missing a nutrition education appointment can pause benefits, so call to reschedule rather than skipping.
Where to Apply
- Online pre-application: mass.gov/forms/apply-for-wic-online
- Statewide WIC information line: 1-800-942-1007 (Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
- Program information and clinic locations: mass.gov/wic-nutrition-program
- National clinic finder: signupwic.com
- Mobile app: WICShopper (Apple App Store and Google Play)
Because Massachusetts WIC is administered locally, clinic hours, walk-in policy, language support, and remote appointment availability vary. Programs serving Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Lowell, New Bedford, and Brockton generally have more sites and more scheduling options. Clinics on the Cape, the Islands, and in the western hilltowns may run on limited days, so call ahead rather than dropping in.
If you want to check whether your household also qualifies for MassHealth, SNAP, or other programs, see our Massachusetts benefits guide for income limits and application steps across programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be a US citizen to get WIC in Massachusetts?
No. WIC has no citizenship or immigration status requirement. Any Massachusetts resident who is pregnant, postpartum, an infant, or a child under 5 and meets the income guidelines can apply. WIC is not counted in public charge determinations.
How long does it take to get WIC benefits in Massachusetts?
Local programs typically contact you within one to two business days of your online pre-application. Most applicants are certified and receive a loaded WIC Card at the certification appointment itself. The wait is getting the appointment, not the decision, and busier urban clinics may book out a couple of weeks.
What is the income limit for WIC in Massachusetts for a family of four?
$61,050 per year, or $5,088 per month, under the guidelines effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. WIC counts gross income before taxes. If you are pregnant, your unborn child counts toward household size.
Can I get WIC if I already have MassHealth or SNAP?
Yes. Enrollment in MassHealth, SNAP, or TAFDC automatically satisfies the WIC income requirement. You still complete the category and nutritional risk portions, but you skip separate income documentation. A card belonging to any household member counts.
What if my income is a little over the limit?
Apply anyway. Household size counts an unborn child, WIC looks at current income rather than last year's, and local staff can calculate income on the timeframe most favorable to you. Reduced hours, a recent job loss, or seasonal work can change the answer. It costs nothing to find out.
Does Massachusetts WIC cover formula?
Yes. WIC provides infant formula for babies who are partially or fully formula-fed, with the brand and quantity based on the infant's age and any medical needs identified at the assessment. Specialty and therapeutic formulas generally require documentation from the baby's healthcare provider.
Can a father or grandparent apply for a child?
Yes. Any primary caregiver of a child under 5, including fathers, grandparents, foster parents, and legal guardians, can apply for and manage that child's WIC benefits.
Is the WIC Card the same as my SNAP EBT card?
No. They are two separate cards. WIC food benefits load onto a dedicated Massachusetts WIC Card that only works on WIC-approved items at authorized stores, while SNAP loads onto your EBT card.
Can I do my WIC appointment remotely in Massachusetts?
Sometimes. Many local programs offer phone or video appointments for follow-ups and nutrition education, but the first certification often needs to be in person because of the height, weight, and hemoglobin measurements. Ask your local clinic when you schedule.
Is there any cost to apply for WIC?
No. WIC is a free federal nutrition program. There is no application fee, no charge for appointments or screenings, and nothing to repay.
