Minnesota 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 Minnesota WIC Online Application at health.state.mn.us/wicapply or call 1-800-942-4030 to reach a clinic near you, then attend a certification appointment with proof of identity, Minnesota residency, and income. If anyone in your household receives Medical Assistance, MinnesotaCare, SNAP, MFIP, Energy Assistance, Head Start, SSI, or free or reduced-price school lunch, you are automatically income-eligible and can skip the income paperwork.
Minnesota WIC is run by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and delivered through local agencies serving all 87 counties, including tribal WIC programs at Bois Forte, Fond du Lac, Grand Portage, Leech Lake, Mille Lacs, Red Lake, and White Earth. There is no single statewide office you walk into. Your appointment scheduling, walk-in policy, and clinic hours all depend on the local agency that serves your area. This guide covers who qualifies, the income limits in effect for 2026, Minnesota's unusually broad automatic eligibility rules, and the exact step-by-step process.
Who Qualifies for WIC in Minnesota
WIC eligibility rests on four things: your category, your income, Minnesota 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, up to six months after the end of your pregnancy
- Breastfeeding, up to your baby's first birthday
- Someone who recently experienced a pregnancy loss
- An infant (birth to 12 months)
- A child ages 1 to 5, up to the fifth 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 new infant placement, can enroll that child. There is no length-of-residency requirement either. You need to live in Minnesota when you apply, nothing more.
Minnesota WIC Income Limits 2026
Minnesota uses the federal WIC income eligibility guidelines set at 185% of the federal poverty level. The table below reflects the guidelines in effect for the July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 program year, published by USDA. Minnesota adopted these figures early, on May 11, 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 meaningfully from the prior program year. A family of four could earn $59,478 under the 2025-2026 guidelines and can now earn $61,050. If you were turned away for being slightly over the limit last year, it is worth applying again.
If you are pregnant, Minnesota WIC counts your unborn child as a household member. A pregnant woman living alone is a household of two, which lifts her limit from $29,526 to $40,034. A pregnant woman expecting twins counts as a household of three.
Local agencies calculate income using whichever period best reflects your situation, weekly, biweekly, monthly, or annually. If your hours were cut recently or your work is seasonal, say so. A snapshot of your current income can produce a different answer than last year's tax return.
Automatic (Adjunctive) Eligibility
Minnesota has one of the broader automatic eligibility lists in the country. You do not need to document income separately if you or anyone in your family is enrolled in:
- Medical Assistance (Minnesota's Medicaid program)
- MinnesotaCare
- SNAP, Minnesota's food support program
- Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP)
- Energy Assistance Program (EAP)
- Free or reduced-price school lunch
- Head Start
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Medical Assistance under TEFRA
Bring your approval letter, EBT card, or program notice to your appointment and the income step is done. This is the fastest path through the application, and a large share of Minnesota WIC participants come in this way. Note that Energy Assistance, Head Start, and free or reduced school lunch are on this list in Minnesota even though many states do not accept them, so check the full list before assuming you have to gather pay stubs.
Presumptive Eligibility Above 185%
Minnesota also runs a presumptive eligibility path that most states do not have. If your income is above 185% of poverty but at or below 275%, and your household includes a pregnant woman, a postpartum woman, or a child under 5, you may be certified on a presumptive basis if you agree to apply for Minnesota Health Care Programs. You get WIC benefits while that application is pending.
The 275% threshold for a single-person household is $43,890 per year as of July 1, 2026. The figures for larger households scale from the same federal poverty guidelines, so the approximate annual cutoffs are around $59,510 for two, $75,130 for three, and $90,750 for four. Ask your clinic for the current presumptive table, because it is applied case by case and the exact figures are published separately from the standard guidelines.
What Minnesota WIC Covers
Approved participants receive a Minnesota WIC Card, an eWIC card loaded monthly with a food package matched to the participant's category and age. It works like a debit card at authorized grocery stores across the state. You must set a PIN before your first shopping trip by calling 1-833-566-5248, which is also the number to call if your card is lost, stolen, or damaged.
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
The Cash Value Benefit for produce runs approximately $26 per month for children and $47 to $52 per month for pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding participants, depending on category. Beyond food, Minnesota WIC provides one-on-one nutrition education, breastfeeding support and access to breast pumps, height, weight, and hemoglobin screenings, and referrals to Medical Assistance, SNAP, immunizations, dental care, and other services.
Minnesota WIC households may also qualify for the WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program, which provides approximately $20 per household per summer to spend on fresh, locally grown produce at authorized Minnesota farmers markets. The benefit is seasonal and limited, so ask your clinic when distribution opens.
How to Apply for WIC in Minnesota: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Submit the Online Application
Go to health.state.mn.us/wicapply and complete the Minnesota WIC Online Application. It is available in English, Spanish, and Somali. The form collects your contact information, household size, and category, then routes your information securely to the local WIC agency that serves your address. Your agency contacts you to schedule the certification appointment.
The online application is not the same as being certified. It starts the process and gets you in the queue with the right clinic.
Step 2: Or Call Your Local WIC Clinic Directly
If you prefer to call, or if you want to be seen sooner, call 1-800-942-4030 to find the WIC clinic nearest you, or use the Minnesota WIC Local Agency Directory at health.state.mn.us/forms/cfh/wicdirectory. You can also reach the state WIC office at 1-800-657-3942 with general questions.
Do not try to apply for WIC through MNbenefits. That portal handles SNAP, cash assistance, and other DHS programs. WIC certification runs through your local WIC agency, not the state benefits portal.
Step 3: Schedule Your Certification Appointment
Ask the clinic what format the first visit takes. Many Minnesota agencies require the initial certification in person because of the height, weight, and hemoglobin screening, while some offer phone or virtual options for parts of the visit. Ask whether you can email or upload documents ahead of time. Plan for roughly 30 to 40 minutes per person being certified, so a mother enrolling herself and two children should budget more than an hour.
Step 4: Gather Your Documents
Bring three categories of proof:
- Proof of identity for each person being certified: driver's license, state ID, passport, birth certificate, tribal ID, or hospital records or a crib card for a newborn
- Proof of Minnesota residency: a recent utility bill, lease or mortgage statement, or official mail showing your current address
- Proof of income, unless you are automatically eligible: recent pay stubs, an employer letter, a tax return, self-employment records, or an unemployment, child support, or Social Security award letter
- Proof of pregnancy if applicable, such as a provider's note or an ultrasound with your name and date
If you receive Medical Assistance, MinnesotaCare, SNAP, MFIP, EAP, Head Start, SSI, or free or reduced-price school lunch, bring that documentation instead of income records.
Bring the infant or child being certified to the appointment. WIC needs to measure and screen them in person.
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 pregnancy itself, low iron, dietary patterns, growth measurements, and family history of diet-related conditions.
Step 6: Get Your Card and Set Your PIN
If you are found eligible, you leave the appointment with your Minnesota WIC Card loaded with your first month of benefits. Call 1-833-566-5248 to set your PIN before your first shopping trip.
Download the free My Minnesota WIC App for iPhone or Android. It scans product barcodes in the store to tell you instantly whether an item is WIC-allowed, finds authorized stores near you, shows your current benefit balance, and sends appointment reminders.
Step 7: Keep Your Check-Ins and Recertify
Certification periods vary by category. Pregnant women are certified through delivery and a postpartum window, breastfeeding mothers can be certified until the baby turns 1, infants are typically certified until their first birthday, and children are recertified annually until age 5. Roughly every three months, WIC staff check in to issue new benefits and talk through your family's needs. Missing those appointments can pause your benefits, so reschedule rather than skip.
Where to Apply
- Online application: health.state.mn.us/wicapply (English, Spanish, Somali)
- Find a clinic: health.state.mn.us/forms/cfh/wicdirectory, or call 1-800-942-4030
- State WIC office: 1-800-657-3942
- WIC Card PIN, lost or stolen card: 1-833-566-5248
- Mobile app: My Minnesota WIC App (Apple App Store and Google Play)
Because Minnesota WIC is administered locally, hours, walk-in policy, and virtual appointment availability vary by agency. Materials and interpretation are available in Spanish, Somali, Hmong, Karen, and other languages. Larger agencies in Hennepin, Ramsey, Dakota, Anoka, and St. Louis counties have more clinic sites and more scheduling options. Rural and tribal clinics may run WIC on limited days each week, so call before you drive.
If you want to check whether your household also qualifies for Medical Assistance, SNAP, energy assistance, or other Minnesota programs, see our Minnesota 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 Minnesota?
No. WIC has no citizenship or immigration status requirement. Any Minnesota resident who is pregnant, postpartum, breastfeeding, 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 Minnesota?
Most applicants are certified and receive their loaded Minnesota WIC Card at the same appointment where the screening happens. The wait is usually getting on the schedule, not the decision. Some clinics can see you within days, busier agencies may book out two or three weeks, so apply as early as you can.
What is the income limit for WIC in Minnesota for a family of four?
$61,050 per year, or $5,088 per month, under the guidelines in effect for the 2026-2027 program year. Gross income counts, not net. If you are pregnant, your unborn child counts toward household size.
Can I get WIC if I already get SNAP or Medical Assistance in Minnesota?
Yes. Enrollment in Medical Assistance, MinnesotaCare, SNAP, MFIP, Energy Assistance, Head Start, SSI, or free or reduced-price school lunch automatically satisfies the WIC income requirement. You still complete the category and nutritional risk portions, but you can skip separate income documentation.
What if my income is over the WIC limit in Minnesota?
Apply anyway. Minnesota offers presumptive eligibility for households between 185% and 275% of the federal poverty level that include a pregnant woman, postpartum woman, or child under 5, if you agree to apply for Minnesota Health Care Programs. Household size also counts an unborn child, and income can be calculated over whichever period best reflects your current situation.
Can I apply for Minnesota WIC entirely online?
You can start online at health.state.mn.us/wicapply, and your local agency will contact you from there. Certification itself usually requires an appointment, because WIC has to measure height and weight and do a hemoglobin check. Ask your clinic whether any part of the visit can be done by phone or video.
Does Minnesota WIC cover infant formula?
Yes. WIC provides iron-fortified 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. Bring identity documents for both yourself and the child.
Is there a tribal WIC program in Minnesota?
Yes. Tribal WIC agencies operate at Bois Forte, Fond du Lac, Grand Portage, Leech Lake, Mille Lacs, Red Lake, and White Earth. Tribal clinics serve their communities directly, and a tribal ID is accepted as proof of identity.
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.
