Vermont WIC provides monthly food benefits, nutrition counseling, and breastfeeding support to pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, plus infants and children under age 5, in households earning at or below 185% of the federal poverty level. You can start an application online, by texting APPLY to 1-844-TEXT-WIC, or by calling 800-464-4343, and a local WIC staff member will follow up to schedule your certification appointment. Vermont offers phone, video, and in-person appointment options, so you do not need to take a full day off work to get certified.
The program is run by the Vermont Department of Health through 12 local district offices statewide, from Burlington and St. Albans to Springfield, St. Johnsbury, and White River Junction, plus community clinic sites in smaller towns. This guide covers who qualifies, the current 2026 to 2027 income limits, the documents to have ready, and what happens step by step from application to your first eWIC card.
Who Qualifies for WIC in Vermont
Vermont WIC eligibility depends on your category, your household income (or automatic eligibility through another program), Vermont residency, and a brief nutritional risk screening. Citizenship status is not a factor, and immigration status is never asked about or verified.
You may qualify if you are:
- Pregnant, at any stage of pregnancy
- Postpartum, up to six months after the pregnancy ends, including after a pregnancy loss
- Breastfeeding or chestfeeding, through your baby's first birthday
- 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
There is no asset or resource test for Vermont WIC. Owning a car, having savings, or owning your home does not affect eligibility.
The nutritional risk screening is quick and most applicants who meet the income test also meet this requirement. During your appointment, staff check height, weight, and iron levels with a simple finger stick, then ask a few questions about diet and health history. Being pregnant, underweight, overweight, anemic, or not meeting general dietary guidelines all count as nutritional risk factors.
Vermont WIC Income Limits 2026-2027
Vermont uses the federal maximum of 185% of the poverty guidelines. The table below reflects income eligibility guidelines effective 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 | $29,526 | $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 | $1,938 |
| Each additional person | +$10,508 | +$876 | +$203 |
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 $29,526 to $40,034 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 Vermont programs:
| Vermont Program | Common Name | Counts for WIC |
|---|
| Green Mountain Care / Dr. Dynasaur | Medicaid | Yes |
| 3SquaresVT | Food stamps (SNAP) | Yes |
| Reach Up | TANF cash assistance | Yes |
Bring your approval letter or a recent benefit notice instead of pay stubs. Vermont residents apply for these programs through the myBenefits portal, and a screenshot or printout of your active case there is usually enough to satisfy the WIC income requirement.
Vermont expanded Medicaid in 2014 (and had similar coverage dating back to 1995), so adults qualify at income up to 138% of the federal poverty level, children up to 317% FPL through Dr. Dynasaur, and pregnant women up to 213% FPL. Many WIC applicants are already enrolled in Green Mountain Care or Dr. Dynasaur and do not realize it clears the income step automatically.
How to Apply for WIC in Vermont: Step by Step
Step 1: Start Your Application
Vermont gives you three ways to begin:
- Online: Fill out the short application at healthvermont.gov/family/wic/apply-wic
- Text: Send the word "Apply" to 1-844-TEXT-WIC (1-844-839-8942)
- Phone: Call the Vermont WIC Program at 800-464-4343 or 802-863-7200
After you submit your initial information, a local WIC staff member contacts you to verify eligibility, learn about your family's needs, and answer questions before scheduling your certification appointment.
Step 2: Find Your Local WIC Office
Vermont delivers WIC through district health offices in Burlington, St. Albans, Springfield, St. Johnsbury, White River Junction, and additional locations, plus community clinic sites in towns like Milton, Swanton, South Hero, and Woodstock. You can find the office closest to you at healthvermont.gov/local. If you already called the state office or texted to apply, staff will route you to the correct local office automatically.
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 Vermont 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
- Green Mountain Care, Dr. Dynasaur, 3SquaresVT, or Reach Up approval letter (satisfies income proof automatically)
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
Vermont offers flexible appointment formats: phone, video, or in person, depending on your local office. Every family member applying still needs to be part of the appointment, including infants and children, so staff can measure and screen them (video and phone appointments still require the child to be present on camera or nearby for measurements at a follow-up visit if needed).
A first certification appointment typically 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 Vermont eWIC card loaded with your first month of benefits
Step 5: Use Your eWIC Card
Vermont 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. Benefits load on your certification date each month and do not roll over, so plan shopping trips before the cycle ends.
What Vermont WIC Provides
Vermont'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 |
Vermont also runs Farm to Family, which adds seasonal coupons (around $30) that WIC families can use for fresh, locally grown produce at participating farmers markets and farm stands, on top of the monthly cash value benefit.
Beyond food, Vermont WIC offices provide nutrition education, breastfeeding support and peer counseling, breast pump access for eligible participants, and referrals to Green Mountain Care, 3SquaresVT, Reach Up, and prenatal care providers.
How Long Certification Lasts
Certification periods depend on category. Pregnant participants are certified through the pregnancy and about six weeks after delivery. Infants and breastfeeding women are certified through the infant's first birthday. Children are typically certified for up to 12 months, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women for about six months. Most families also attend a shorter check-in appointment roughly every two to three months to keep benefits active between full recertifications.
You remain eligible through your certification period even if your income rises during it. Keep your scheduled appointments. Missing a recertification is the most common reason Vermont families lose WIC benefits they still qualify for.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for WIC in Vermont?
Start online at healthvermont.gov/family/wic/apply-wic, text APPLY to 1-844-TEXT-WIC (1-844-839-8942), or call 800-464-4343. A local WIC staff member follows up to verify eligibility and schedule your certification appointment, which can be done by phone, video, or in person.
What is the income limit for WIC in Vermont?
Vermont uses the federal maximum of 185% of the poverty level. For the period July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, a household of one qualifies at up to $29,526 a year, and a household of four qualifies at up to $61,050 a year. Households already receiving Green Mountain Care, Dr. Dynasaur, 3SquaresVT, or Reach Up are automatically income eligible.
How long does it take to get WIC benefits in Vermont?
Most applicants receive their eWIC card and first month of benefits at their certification appointment. The main wait is scheduling that appointment, which varies by district office. Applying online, by text, or by phone starts the process immediately, so do not wait until your baby arrives to apply.
Does WIC affect immigration status or count as a public charge?
No. WIC is not counted in public charge determinations, and Vermont WIC offices 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 Green Mountain Care, Dr. Dynasaur, 3SquaresVT, or Reach Up, you are automatically income eligible regardless of what your pay stubs show.
Can I do my Vermont WIC appointment remotely?
Yes. Vermont offers phone and video appointments in addition to in-person visits at most local offices. This applies to certification, recertification, and routine check-in appointments.
What if I miss my WIC appointment in Vermont?
Contact your local WIC office to reschedule as soon as possible. Benefits are not issued for months you were not certified, so rebooking quickly limits what you miss.
More Vermont program details, including Green Mountain Care and 3SquaresVT income limits, are at /states/vermont.
