WIC

Participants Rights & Responsibilities

Your Responsibilities as a WIC Participant

  • You will be given an appointment time to have your WIC benefits loaded onto your WIC card. Be on time for your appointment. (If you cannot keep your appointment, call your local WIC office for a new appointment.) If you are more than a week late, you may be given fewer benefits.
  • Proper documentation is necessary for each WIC appointment. Please see the Appointment Checklist to make sure you have everything you need for you appointment.
  • Your WIC benefits can only be used in the State of Michigan.
  • Spend your benefits only at stores that have been approved to accept WIC. Your local WIC office has a list of these stores. WIC participants are encouraged to shop at stores with lower prices; buy the least expensive brands of all WIC foods; and use money saving coupons when buying food with WIC coupons. This will help WIC to serve more women and children who need WIC foods.
  • Keep your WIC EBT card in a safe place so it doesn’t get lost or stolen.
  • Use your benefits within the dates printed on your shopping list.
  • Buy only the foods that are listed on your WIC shopping list.
  • Do not sell your WIC EBT card or the foods you buy with your WIC benefits. Do not try to exchange the foods you buy with your WIC benefits for money. This is illegal and you can be taken off the WIC program for selling WIC foods or trying to get a cash refund for WIC foods from the store.
  • The foods you buy with your WIC benefits should be eaten only by the person whose name is on the WIC account. You must tell the WIC staff if your child is no longer in your home.
  • Keep your WIC VOC (Verification of Certification) form in a safe place and take it with you whenever you go to the WIC office. It is proof that you are on the WIC program. If someone else is picking up your benefits for you, she/he must have your WIC VOC also. This person's name must also be on your WIC account at the office.
  • Make sure that you are not enrolled in two different WIC clinics at the same time. If you are, you may be taken off the WIC program.
  • Be courteous to store employees and WIC staff members. You can be taken off the WIC program for abusive or threatening language or behavior.
  • Report any rude or unlawful treatment you received at the grocery store to the WIC hotline: 1-800-CALL-WIC