Families are eligible to participate in the WIC Program if their gross
(before taxes) yearly income is 185% or less of the poverty level. A
surprising number of families with young children fall into this income
bracket. Please keep the number of your local WIC office and the
national WIC income guidelines handy, so that you can help out
breastfeeding moms struggling on a tight budget.
Guidelines for the Women, Infants and Children Special Supplemental Food
Program, July 1, 1997 through June 30, 1998. (Guidelines updated every
year to keep pace with inflation and the cost of living):
Family Size Gross Income: Annual Monthly Weekly
(No. of family members)
2 (pregnant woman
is considered 2 people).................$19,629 $1,217 $281
3.......................................$24,661 $1,636 $378
4.......................................$29,693 $2,056 $475
5.......................................$34,725 $2,894 $572
6.......................................$39,757 $3,314 $765
7.......................................$44,789 $3,733 $862
8.......................................$49,821 $4,152 $959
For each additional family member, add +5,032 +402 +97
Breastfeeding women, unlike non-breastfeeding postpartum women, may
receive WIC benefits until their babies are 1 year old. If breastfeeding
women decide not to take any ABM from WIC, they can get the largest food
package, consisting of milk, cheese, eggs, juice, cereal, tuna, carrots,
dried beans and peanut butter. (Breastfeeding women who decide to
supplement with WIC ABM get a smaller food package consisting of milk,
eggs, cheese, juice and cereal.) Fully breastfed babies get cereal
(after age 4 months) and baby juice (after age 6 months).
Unfortunately, except for the food packages, WIC services for
breastfeeding moms vary considerably from program to program. Some offer
breast pumps and other goodies. Some have trained breastfeeding peer
counselors and dynamic BF support groups. But many don't.
Mary Krisco, MS, RD
WIC Nutritonist
Cook County Department of Public Health
P.O. Box 3066
Oak Park, IL 60303-3066
(708) 445-2507
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