Rights and Responsibilities of an Applicant or a Participant
Participant Rights
a. WIC staff will treat you with courtesy and respect. Everyone will be treated equally.
b. If you disagree with a decision about your WIC eligibility, you may appeal by requesting a Fair Hearing.
c. WIC will provide you information about nutrition, breastfeeding, and healthy foods.
d. WIC will help you receive other health care or social services, such as Immunizations, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, and Voter Registration.
Participants Responsibilities
a. A participant must keep appointments and be on time. If an appointment cannot be kept, the appointment must be rescheduled as soon as possible to avoid disruptions in benefits.
b. A participant must provide all requested documentation at each appointment.
c. A participant must treat WIC and store staff with courtesy and respect.
d. A participant must participate in only one WIC Clinic, WIC Local Agency (LA), or WIC Program at a time. A participant can only redeem benefits for themselves or their dependents from one WIC Clinic, Local Agency, or WIC Program at a time. If a participant moves or changes agencies, the participant must notify the new agency regarding previous participation in WIC to help prevent dual participation. A participant that moves can request a verification of certification.
e. A participant must follow the rules when using WIC benefits. WIC staff will explain how to redeem benefits when an applicant becomes a participant in the WIC Program.
f. A participant must buy only the foods included in the participant’s WIC benefit package. The approved foods are only for the person on the WIC Program. Food provided in a WIC food benefit package, WIC-issued breast pumps and accessories, formula, WIC electronic balance transfer (EBT) cards, or supplemental food benefits cannot be offered, stolen, sold, traded, exchanged or given to others verbally, online (including social media), in print, or allow someone else do it for the participant.
g. A participant must report lost or stolen benefits, WIC foods, WIC-issued breast pumps and accessories, formula, WIC EBT cards, or supplemental food benefits. If foodbenefits are lost or stolen, they may not be replaced.
h. A participant must report any changes in income, family size, or eligibility for Medicaid, SNAP, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
Participants may also be held accountable and possibly be disqualified if:
1. Participant information provided to WIC is not truthful and accurate.
2. Participants deliberately receive or redeem benefits from more than one WIC Clinic, Local Agency, or WIC Program at a time for themselves or any of their dependents.
3. A participant directly or indirectly receives compensation or refund, including store credit and gift cards, from an authorized WIC vendor.
4. Participants do not follow the rules when using WIC foods benefits, WIC-issued breast pumps and accessories, formula, WIC EBT cards, or supplemental food benefits.
5. Participants use abusive language with WIC Clinic staff, other WIC participants at the clinic, or store personnel