WIC Income Limits 2026 — Eligibility + Qualifying Categories
For the WIC income-guideline year July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, WIC eligibility requires income at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Level plus categorical eligibility (pregnant, postpartum, breastfeeding women + infants + children up to 5).
Annual income limits at 185% FPL (July 2026 to June 2027, 48 states + DC)
| Household Size | Annual | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $29,526 | $2,461 |
| 2 people | $40,034 | $3,337 |
| 3 people | $50,542 | $4,212 |
| 4 people | $61,050 | $5,088 |
| 5 people | $71,558 | $5,964 |
| 6 people | $82,066 | $6,839 |
| 7 people | $92,574 | $7,715 |
| 8 people | $103,082 | $8,591 |
| Each additional | +$10,508 | +$876 |
Higher amounts apply in Alaska + Hawaii. A pregnant woman counts as 2 (or more if multiple birth) for household-size purposes.
Who qualifies (categorical eligibility)
- Pregnant women — through pregnancy + 6 weeks postpartum
- Postpartum non-breastfeeding women — up to 6 months after delivery
- Breastfeeding women — up to 12 months postpartum (or until breastfeeding ends)
- Infants — birth to 1st birthday
- Children — 1st birthday to 5th birthday
Fathers, grandparents, and other caregivers can apply on behalf of eligible children.
Adjunctive eligibility (auto-qualify)
Most states automatically qualify families already receiving:
- SNAP (food stamps)
- TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)
- Medicaid
If you receive any of these, you generally don't need to verify income separately for WIC.
The other 3 WIC tests
Income is just 1 of 4 WIC eligibility tests:
- Categorical (above) — must fall into an eligible category
- Residential — must reside in the state where applying
- Income (this page) — at or below 185% FPL
- Nutritional risk — clinical assessment at the WIC clinic visit (low threshold; most applicants meet it)
Immigration status
WIC has lower citizenship barriers than SNAP. Most immigrants are eligible if they meet the other tests. Immigration status verification is NOT required for children. Mixed-status households may be partially eligible.
How to apply for WIC in 2026
Applications go through your state agency. Find your state portal:
Or call the USDA WIC main line: 1-800-942-3678.
Related
- /apply-wic — state-by-state application portals
- /api/v1/wic-eligibility.json — machine-readable
- /snap-benefits-2026 — SNAP benefits 2026
- /api/v1/eligibility-summary.json — all federal programs
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service. Page maintained by Feed America (EIN 92-1761881).