WIC Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

WIC is a federally funded nutrition program for Women (must be pregnant, breastfeeding or less than six months postpartum), Infants, and Children up to age five years old. In Escambia County, WIC services are available at:

• Fairfield service center (1295 West Fairfield Drive)
• Northside service center (8390 North Palafox St.)

To be income-eligible for WIC:

You must have a total household income equal to or less than the amounts shown in the WIC Income Guidelines OR you are income-eligible if you are currently receiving Medicaid, Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA), or Food Assistance. However, you do not have to be on a public assistance program to qualify for WIC.

WIC Income Guidelines

Call 850-595-6670 for more information about how to apply. Bring the following items to your first appointment.

• Proof of where you live
• Proof of all income for the household unless you are on Medicaid or receive food stamps.
• Identification for everyone applying for WIC in your family

• Nutrition information
• Healthy foods at no cost to you such as milk, cheese, juice, eggs, fruits and vegetables, whole grain bread and pasta, brown rice, corn tortillas, yogurt, baby food, and infant formula.  
• Breastfeeding information and support including breast pump loans
• Referrals for health care and other services
• Click see the food packages each family member can receive:
  • Pregnant woman (1.17 MB; pdf)
  • Child 1 year of age (1.62 MB; pdf)
  • Child 2-5 years of age (1.57 MB; pdf)
  • Moms and babies (314 KB; pdf)
  • Women who are partially breastfeeding (1.18 MB; pdf)
  • Women with limited or no breastfeeding (1.12 MB; pdf)
  • Florida WIC Food Pamphlet (7.02 MB; pdf)

• If you receive Medicaid and/or food stamps we will make sure you are current.
• If you do not receive assistance, we will review household income for the past month.
• You will be weighed and measured during your first appointment. Note: Nutrition staff may need to get a drop of blood to measure your iron level.
• Nutrition staff will review your information and talk with you about your eating habits.  From this information you will receive: counseling about how to improve nutritional health and guidelines for feeding your infant or child.

Finally, you will receive your WIC EBT card. This card can be used at approved grocery stores to purchase foods such as milk, cheese, juice, and eggs. WIC EBT cards contain three months of food credit.

Fairfield Service Center
1295 West Fairfield Drive 

Walk-ins welcome Monday – Thursday 8:15-11:15 a.m. and 12:30-3:30 p.m.

Fridays Walk-ins welcome 8:15 a.m.-1:30 p.m., last Friday of the month appointments only.

Please call 850-595-6670 to make an appointment

Northside WIC Clinic
8390 North Palafox
Tuesday and Thursday appointments only.

Allow two hours for first visit and and mid-certification. Re-certification happens twice a year. Regular appointments should last no longer than 30 to 45 minutes.

No – WIC is provided in addition to food stamps and any other government benefits.

If all the information we need is available at your first visit, most clients can receive three months of food credit on their WIC EBT card. This means you may only have to come in four times each year.

WIC has breastfeeding specialists and trained breastfeeding peer counselors who are available to assist. Our staff can answer your questions, help solve any breastfeeding problems and simply provide reassurance that things are going well. We have electric pumps we can loan (at no charge) to moms who must be separated from their babies. We can weigh your baby Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. without an appointment.

WIC provides an EBT card that can be used at many area grocery stores. The EBT card lists the amounts and types of foods that may be purchased. We will provide a list of stores that accept the WIC EBT card during your appointment.

WIC allows your household to make up to 185 percent above the poverty level.  If you, your infant or child are receiving Medicaid or food stamps, you are automatically financially eligible.

For a pregnant woman, each unborn baby counts as 1 extra person in the household size.

WIC Income Guidelines