WIC Benefit Boost and Remote Services Extended

Fruit and Veggie Boost Extended through March

WIC's cash value benefit (CVB) increase has been extended through the end of March 2022. Most WIC kids and moms are automatically getting 3-4 times the standard amount ($9 or $11) on their eWIC card to buy fruits and veggies. The temporary benefit increase applies to women and children participants and aligns with recommendations from National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), providing a CVB value at 50 percent of recommended intake as measured in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Through March, monthly CVB benefits are:

$24 for children age 1-4,
$43 for pregnant and postpartum participants,
$47 for breastfeeding participants, and
$70.50 for participants fully breastfeeding multiple infants.

Please visit our COVID-19 page for background and policy links.

Help Spread the Word and Connect More Families to WIC

We have made it easy for community partners to help spread the word about the extended benefit increase to current and potential WIC participants. Visit the WIC Help New York Resource Center to find short eNews articles, social media posts, and graphics like the images included in this email.

You can use other materials in the WIC Help New York Resource Center to promote WIC services to families who may be eligible. NYS WIC serves approximately 370,000 pregnant and postpartum women, infants and children under age 5, yet reaches only about 50 percent of potentially eligible New Yorkers. With remote services, eWIC, the WIC2Go app, and Wanda—the new WIC virtual assistant—it's easier than ever to apply and participate in WIC. Wanda is available online 24/7 to help prescreen potential clients, answer questions, and provide referrals to local WIC clinics.

How Are Boosted Benefits Helping WIC Families? Please Share Your Story!

Are your clients or participants enjoying their extra benefits? Contact Misha Marvel, Child Nutrition Programs Specialist, or reply to this email with what county you serve and what you are hearing from WIC participants about the increased fruits/veggies. Real stories from real people go a long way and we are sharing examples with partners and community leaders, such as this from a mom of 1- and 2-year-old sons in Suffolk County:

“We absolutely benefit from this increase because my sons have digestive issues and to have more access to fresh fruits and vegetables truly helps them maintain a healthy digestive system without the need for medication as often. One of my sons is also a very picky eater but loves to eat all fruits and vegetables so it is always our go-to food. We could use the increase along with any other increase because we buy not only the fresh fruits and vegetables but the canned peas and apple sauce. These help my youngest son and he loves them. They both love the healthy fruit popsicles that we make ourselves during the summer. Overall it has helped us tremendously!”

WIC Flexibilities Renewed Through mid-July

With the recent national extension of the Public Health Emergency (PHE), WIC flexibilities are now in place until at least July 14, 2022. For New York, WIC agencies are able to enroll or re-enroll applicants and issue benefits remotely so families don’t have to visit the WIC clinic in person. Specifically, clinics may serve participants remotely via telephone, text or video conference, and remotely load WIC benefits into eWIC accounts.

Please visit our COVID-19 page for background and policy links.

Hunger Solutions New York
14 Computer Drive East | Albany, New York 12205
518-436-8757 | info@hungersolutionsny.org

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