Tennessee WIC provides monthly food benefits, nutrition counseling, and breastfeeding support to pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children under 5 in households earning at or below 185% of the federal poverty level. You apply by calling your county health department or the statewide WIC hotline at 1-800-DIAL-WIC (1-800-342-5942), then attending a certification appointment with proof of identity, Tennessee residency, and income. Most families who qualify leave that first appointment with an eWIC card already loaded with benefits.
The program is run by the Tennessee Department of Health and delivered through 126 county health departments plus stand-alone clinics and hospital sites across the state. This guide covers who qualifies, the current 2026 to 2027 income limits, the documents to bring, and what happens step by step.
Who Qualifies for WIC in Tennessee
Tennessee WIC eligibility comes down to four things: your category, your household income, Tennessee residency, and a nutritional risk identified during a short health screening at the clinic. Citizenship is not a factor, and immigration status is not asked about or checked.
You may qualify if you are:
- Pregnant, at any point in the pregnancy
- Breastfeeding, up to your baby's first birthday
- Postpartum and not breastfeeding, generally for about six months after the pregnancy ends
- An infant, from birth to 12 months
- A child from age 1 up to the fifth birthday
- A parent, grandparent, foster parent, or other caregiver applying on behalf of an eligible infant or child
WIC welcomes fathers, grandparents, and foster parents to bring an eligible child in for certification. You do not need to be the biological mother.
There is no asset or resource test for Tennessee WIC. A car, savings account, or home ownership does not affect eligibility.
The nutritional risk screening is brief, and most applicants who meet the income test also meet this requirement. Clinic staff measure height and weight, check iron levels with a quick finger stick, and ask a few questions about diet and health history. Being pregnant, underweight, overweight, anemic, or simply not meeting general dietary guidelines all count toward nutritional risk.
Tennessee WIC Income Limits 2026-2027
Tennessee uses the federal maximum of 185% of the poverty guidelines, the same table used across the 48 contiguous states and Washington, DC. The figures below reflect the USDA income eligibility guidelines in effect July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. These are gross income figures, meaning income before taxes and other deductions.
| Household Size | Annual | Monthly | Weekly |
|---|
| 1 | $29,520 | $2,460 | $568 |
| 2 | $40,020 | $3,335 | $770 |
| 3 | $50,544 | $4,212 | $972 |
| 4 | $61,044 | $5,087 | $1,174 |
| 5 | $71,544 | $5,962 | $1,376 |
| 6 | $82,068 | $6,839 | $1,578 |
| 7 | $92,568 | $7,714 | $1,780 |
| 8 | $103,068 | $8,589 | $1,982 |
| Each additional person | +$10,500 | +$875 | +$202 |
Count your unborn baby as part of your household size. A pregnant woman living alone counts as a household of two, which raises her income limit from $29,520 to $40,020 a year. Pregnant with twins counts as a household of three.
Automatic (Adjunctive) Income Eligibility
You can skip the income paperwork entirely if you or anyone in your household already receives one of these Tennessee programs:
| Tennessee Program | Common Name | Counts for WIC |
|---|
| TennCare | Medicaid | Yes |
| SNAP | Food stamps | Yes |
| Families First | TANF cash assistance | Yes |
Bring your approval letter or a recent benefit statement instead of pay stubs. If anyone in your household is already enrolled in TennCare, SNAP, or Families First, print or screenshot the active case confirmation and hand it to WIC staff. That single document usually satisfies the entire income requirement.
Tennessee has not expanded Medicaid under the ACA, so working-age adults without children generally do not qualify for TennCare regardless of how low their income is. Pregnant women, however, qualify for TennCare at higher income limits than most other adult categories, and many pregnant WIC applicants are already covered.
How to Apply for WIC in Tennessee: Step by Step
Step 1: Find Your Local WIC Clinic
Tennessee does not have a single statewide online WIC application. You apply through your local county health department or a WIC clinic near you. Call the statewide hotline at 1-800-DIAL-WIC (1-800-342-5942) to be connected with the clinic nearest you, or search for your county health department directly. WIC operates out of all 126 county health departments in Tennessee, plus additional stand-alone clinics and hospital-based sites in larger metro areas.
Shelby County (Memphis) works differently. Do not call the statewide 800-DIAL-WIC line for a Shelby County appointment. Instead, call the Shelby County Health Department Call Center at (901) 222-9980 or email schd.callcenter@shelbycountytn.gov to schedule.
Step 2: Schedule Your Appointment
Call your local clinic to schedule a certification appointment. Wait times vary by county and clinic capacity, so call as soon as you think you might qualify rather than waiting until your due date approaches or your baby arrives.
Step 3: Gather Your Documents
Bring one item from each category, for every family member applying:
Proof of identity
- Driver's license or state ID
- Birth certificate
- Passport or military ID
- Hospital discharge papers for a newborn
- School ID or immunization record for a child
Proof of Tennessee residency
- Recent utility bill
- Lease agreement or rent receipt
- Driver's license or state ID with current address
- Mail addressed to you at your current address
Proof of income
- Recent pay stubs
- Letter from your employer
- Unemployment benefit statement
- Prior year tax return or W-2
- TennCare, SNAP, or Families First approval letter (satisfies income proof automatically)
Immunization records are also requested for children applying for WIC in Tennessee, so bring your child's shot record if you have one.
If you are pregnant, a note from your doctor or midwife confirming the pregnancy and due date can help speed up your first appointment, though it is not always required.
Step 4: Attend Your Certification Appointment
Every family member applying needs to be physically present, including infants and children, so staff can measure and screen them. A first certification appointment typically runs 45 minutes to an hour and covers:
- Reviewing your application and verifying documents
- Height, weight, and a finger stick to check iron levels
- A short conversation about diet, health history, and any feeding concerns
- Assignment of your food package based on category and age
- Issuing your Tennessee eWIC card loaded with your first month of benefits
Step 5: Use Your eWIC Card
Tennessee issues benefits on an eWIC card that works like a debit card at authorized grocery stores and pharmacies statewide. Check your balance on the register receipt after each purchase, or call the number on the back of your card, or use the WICShopper app to track your balance and find approved items. Benefits load on your certification date each month and do not roll over, so plan your shopping trips before the cycle ends.
What Tennessee WIC Provides
Tennessee's WIC food package is based on category and age, and typically includes milk, cheese, eggs, whole grain bread, brown rice, oatmeal or tortillas, breakfast cereal, peanut butter, dried or canned beans, tofu, 100% juice, canned fish for fully breastfeeding mothers, and infant formula, infant cereal, and baby food for babies who are not fully breastfed.
Every participant also receives a monthly cash value benefit that can only be spent on fruits and vegetables, fresh, frozen, canned, or dried. Approximate FY 2026 federal amounts:
| Participant Category | Monthly Fruit and Vegetable Benefit |
|---|
| Children ages 1 to 4 | approximately $26 |
| Pregnant and postpartum women | approximately $47 |
| Fully breastfeeding women | approximately $52 |
Beyond food, Tennessee WIC clinics provide nutrition education, breastfeeding support and peer counseling, breast pump access for eligible participants, and referrals to TennCare, SNAP, immunizations, and prenatal care.
How Long Certification Lasts
Certification periods depend on category. Pregnant participants are typically certified through the pregnancy and about six weeks after delivery. Infants are usually certified through their first birthday. Children are generally certified for six months to a year at a time, with a recertification appointment scheduled before the period ends.
You remain eligible through your certification period even if your income rises during it. Keep your scheduled appointments. Missing a recertification is one of the most common reasons Tennessee families lose WIC benefits they still qualify for.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for WIC in Tennessee?
Call the statewide WIC hotline at 1-800-DIAL-WIC (1-800-342-5942), or contact your county health department directly, to schedule a certification appointment. Tennessee does not have a statewide online WIC application, so you cannot apply over the internet. Shelby County residents should call (901) 222-9980 instead of the statewide number.
What is the income limit for WIC in Tennessee?
Tennessee uses the federal maximum of 185% of the poverty level. For the period through June 30, 2027, a household of one qualifies at up to $29,520 a year, and a household of four qualifies at up to $61,044 a year. Households already enrolled in TennCare, SNAP, or Families First are automatically income eligible.
How long does it take to get WIC benefits in Tennessee?
Most applicants receive their eWIC card and first month of benefits at the certification appointment itself. The main wait is getting an available appointment slot, which varies by county. Call as early as possible, especially during pregnancy.
Does WIC affect immigration status or count as a public charge?
No. WIC is not counted in public charge determinations, and Tennessee WIC clinics do not ask about immigration status. Eligible children and pregnant women can receive WIC regardless of a household member's immigration status.
Can fathers and grandparents apply for a child?
Yes. Any parent, guardian, foster parent, or caregiver can bring an eligible infant or child under 5 to a WIC certification appointment.
What if my income is slightly over the limit?
Apply anyway. Household size includes an unborn baby, which raises the limit, and certain income sources can be excluded from the calculation. If anyone in your household receives TennCare, SNAP, or Families First, you are automatically income eligible regardless of what your pay stubs show.
Can I use my Tennessee eWIC card in another state?
No. WIC benefits are issued by the state that certified you and can only be used at authorized retailers in that state. If you move, contact WIC in your new state right away and ask about a verification of certification transfer so you do not lose eligibility during the switch.
What if I miss my WIC appointment in Tennessee?
Call your clinic to reschedule as soon as possible. Benefits are not issued for months you were not certified, so rebooking quickly limits what you miss.
More Tennessee program details, including Medicaid and SNAP income limits, are at /states/tennessee.
