Michigan WIC provides monthly food benefits, nutrition counseling, and breastfeeding support to pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children under 5 whose household income is at or below 185% of the federal poverty level. To apply, you complete the online prescreening at the Michigan WIC Client Connect portal, call your local WIC clinic to schedule a certification appointment, and bring proof of identity, Michigan residency, and income. If anyone in your household already receives Medicaid, the Food Assistance Program (FAP), or the Family Independence Program (FIP), you are automatically income-eligible and can skip the income paperwork.
Michigan WIC is administered by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and delivered through local agencies, county and district health departments, community clinics, and nonprofit organizations across all 83 counties. There is no single statewide office you walk into. Your appointment, your paperwork, and your walk-in availability all depend on which local agency serves your area. This guide covers who qualifies, the income limits in effect for 2026, and the exact step-by-step process.
Who Qualifies for WIC in Michigan
WIC eligibility rests on four things: your category, your income, Michigan 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 (until your baby turns 6 months)
- 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 grandmother raising a 3-year-old, or a foster parent with an infant placement, can enroll that child even if she is not applying for herself.
Michigan WIC Income Limits 2026
Michigan 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 figures went up meaningfully from the prior year. A family of four could earn $59,478 under the 2025-2026 guidelines and can now earn $61,050. If you were turned down for being slightly over the limit last year, it is worth reapplying.
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 pregnant woman expecting twins counts as a household of three.
Automatic (Adjunctive) Eligibility
You do not need to document income separately if you or anyone in your household is enrolled in:
- Medicaid, including the Healthy Michigan Plan and MIChild
- The Food Assistance Program (FAP), Michigan's SNAP program, delivered on the Michigan Bridge Card
- The Family Independence Program (FIP), Michigan's TANF cash assistance
Bring your approval letter, your Bridge Card, or your Medicaid mihealth card to your appointment and the income step is done. This is the single fastest path through the application, and a large share of Michigan WIC participants come in this way.
What Michigan WIC Covers
Approved participants get a Michigan WIC Bridge Card, loaded monthly with a food package tailored to the participant's category and age. It works like a debit card at authorized retailers statewide. Note that this is a separate card from the Bridge Card used for Food Assistance, even though the naming is similar.
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, Michigan WIC provides one-on-one nutrition education, breastfeeding support and access to breast pumps, height, weight, and hemoglobin screenings, and referrals to Medicaid, Food Assistance, immunization clinics, and dental care.
Michigan also runs the WIC Produce Connection (formerly Project FRESH), a seasonal summer benefit that lets participants buy fresh Michigan-grown fruits and vegetables at participating farmers markets. It has moved from paper coupons to electronic benefits. Ask your local clinic when summer enrollment opens, since the benefit is limited and typically distributed on a first-come basis.
How to Apply for WIC in Michigan: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Complete the Online Prescreening
Go to the Michigan WIC Client Connect portal at wiccp.state.mi.us/clientportal and use the eligibility prescreening tool. It asks three things: whether anyone in your household is pregnant, recently gave birth, is breastfeeding, or is under 5; whether you live in Michigan; and whether anyone in the household receives SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, or free and reduced-price school meals. It takes a few minutes and gives you an immediate read on whether you likely qualify. It is not a formal application.
Step 2: Find Your Local WIC Agency
Michigan WIC operates through local agencies with clinic sites across the state. Use the MDHHS local agency directory at michigan.gov/mdhhs/assistance-programs/wic/localagencies to find the agency serving your county, or call the state WIC office at 1-800-942-1636. Many local agencies also let you request an appointment through their own website or by text.
Do not try to apply for WIC through MI Bridges. MI Bridges handles Food Assistance, Medicaid, and cash assistance applications, but WIC certification runs through your local WIC clinic, not the state benefits portal.
Step 3: Schedule Your Certification Appointment
Call the clinic to book. Some Michigan agencies offer virtual or phone certification appointments, others require the first visit in person because of the height, weight, and hemoglobin screening. Ask when you call, and ask whether you can upload or email documents ahead of time. Plan for the initial appointment to take one to two hours.
Step 4: Gather Your Documents
Bring all three categories of proof:
- Proof of identity for every person being enrolled: driver's license, state ID, passport, birth certificate, hospital records, immunization record, or a crib card for a newborn
- Proof of Michigan 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 dated within the last 30 days (if you are paid weekly, bring four), an employer letter, a recent tax return, self-employment records, or an unemployment or child support award letter
- Proof of pregnancy if applicable, such as a note from your provider or a due date confirmation
If you receive Medicaid, FAP, or FIP, bring that proof instead of income documents.
Step 5: Attend the Appointment
A WIC staff member, often a registered dietitian or nutritionist, reviews your documents, records 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. Most applicants who meet the income test clear this step easily, because the qualifying risk categories are broad and include things like being pregnant, low iron, dietary patterns, or a history of a diet-related condition in the family.
Step 6: Get Your Card and Start Shopping
If approved, you leave with a Michigan WIC Bridge Card loaded with your first benefit period, usually at that same visit. Download the free Michigan WIC Connect app for iPhone or Android to check your balance, scan products in the store to see if they are WIC-approved, view your shopping list, and see upcoming appointments. Setting up the app requires a MILogin account plus your Family ID, WIC card number, and the authorized person's date of birth.
Step 7: Keep Your Appointments and Recertify
Certification periods vary. Infants are generally certified until their first birthday, children ages 1 to 5 are typically recertified about 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 clinic will contact you before your certification expires. Missing a nutrition education appointment can pause your benefits, so reschedule rather than skip.
Where to Apply
- Prescreening and client portal: wiccp.state.mi.us/clientportal
- Find your local agency: michigan.gov/mdhhs/assistance-programs/wic/localagencies
- State WIC information line: 1-800-942-1636
- National clinic finder: signupwic.com
- Mobile app: Michigan WIC Connect (Apple App Store and Google Play)
Because Michigan WIC is administered locally, hours, walk-in policy, language support, and virtual appointment availability vary. Larger agencies in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Kent, and Genesee counties generally have more scheduling options and more clinic sites. Rural districts in the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula may run clinics on limited days of the week, so call ahead rather than dropping in.
If you want to check whether your household also qualifies for Medicaid, the Food Assistance Program, or other Michigan programs, see our Michigan 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 Michigan?
No. WIC has no citizenship or immigration status requirement. Any Michigan 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 Michigan?
Most applicants are certified and receive their loaded WIC Bridge Card at the same appointment where they complete the screening. The wait is usually getting the appointment, not the decision. Some clinics can see you within a few days; busier agencies may book out two or three weeks, so call as early as you can.
Can I get WIC if I already get Food Assistance or Medicaid in Michigan?
Yes. Enrollment in Medicaid, the Food Assistance Program, or the Family Independence Program automatically meets the WIC income requirement. You will still complete the category and nutritional risk portions, but you can skip separate income documentation.
What is the income limit for WIC in Michigan for a family of four?
$61,050 per year, or $5,088 per month, under the guidelines effective July 1, 2026. Gross income counts, not net. If you are pregnant, the unborn child counts toward household size.
What if my income is a little over the limit?
Apply anyway. Household size counts an unborn child, and WIC looks at your current income situation, so a recent job loss, reduced hours, or seasonal work can change the calculation. A hospital-verified pregnancy or an adjunctive program enrollment can also change the answer. It costs nothing to find out.
Does Michigan WIC cover formula?
Yes. WIC provides infant formula for babies who are partially or fully formula-fed. The brand and quantity depend on the infant's age and any medical needs identified in the assessment. Specialty 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 Bridge Card the same as my Food Assistance Bridge Card?
No. They are separate cards. Michigan uses "Bridge Card" naming for both, but WIC food benefits load onto a dedicated WIC card that only works on WIC-approved items at authorized retailers.
Is there any cost to apply for WIC?
No. WIC is a free federal nutrition program. There is no application fee, no cost for appointments or screenings, and nothing to repay.
