2026/2027 WIC Income Eligibility Guidelines
AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.
This notice updates the income limits that states must use to decide who qualifies for WIC benefits from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. It sets the maximum and minimum income thresholds tied to 185% of the federal poverty guidelines, with separate tables for the 48 contiguous states and D.C., Alaska, and Hawaii. For businesses and compliance teams, the main impact is on WIC eligibility screening and state program administration. State agencies must apply the updated limits by July 1, 2026, and they may align the change with Medicaid income updates if they do so no later than that date.
AI-generated summary. May contain errors. Refer to official sources for legal decisions.
Key Changes
- Updates WIC income eligibility limits for the period July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
- Uses 185% of the federal poverty guidelines as the top income benchmark, with separate tables for the 48 contiguous states and D.C., Alaska, and Hawaii.
- State agencies must implement the new WIC guidelines by July 1, 2026, and may align them with Medicaid income updates if done no later than that date.
Obligations
What this law requires
State WIC agencies must use the updated income eligibility guidelines shown in the notice to determine WIC applicant income eligibility for the period July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.
State WIC agencies that do not coordinate with Medicaid income guideline updates must implement the revised WIC income eligibility guidelines on or before July 1, 2026.
State WIC agencies that choose to coordinate WIC updates with Medicaid may implement the revised WIC income eligibility guidelines concurrently with the Medicaid income eligibility update, but not later than July 1, 2026.
When setting WIC income guidelines, State agencies may not adopt standards that exceed the reduced-price school meals income guidelines or fall below 100% of the Federal poverty guidelines.
State agencies that align WIC income guidelines with State or local free or reduced-price health care guidelines must ensure the WIC guidelines remain within the federally allowed range tied to reduced-price school meals and 100% of the Federal poverty guidelines.