Montana WIC provides supplemental foods, healthcare referrals, nutrition education, and breastfeeding promotion and support to low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women. The service is also extended to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk. Montana WIC provides formula for babies who are not breastfeeding as well as basic foods like cheese, bread and milk for older children.

In addition to supplying nutritious foods, WIC also provides nutrition education and counseling at WIC clinics. This goes along with screening and referrals to other health, welfare and social services as needed. In Montana, you can find a WIC clinic near you by visiting their official website: https://www.wicoffice.net/search-nearest-wic-office.

The Food Stamp SNAP program in Indiana has an objective of helping residents get the food that they need based on a healthy diet and wholesome food chain. Once you qualify, food assistance benefits are deposited electronically to your EBT card each month. EBT card is equivalent to cash and works at any SNAP authorized vendor. SNAP programs benefit low income families by giving them a certain amount for food that they otherwise would not receive. There are specified types of food that you can buy or what the EBT card will pay for.

WIC benefits allow you to purchase the following products:

• Fresh fruits and vegetables at seasonal farmer's markets
• Informational materials
• Nutrition and health related videos
• Cooking classes
• Prenatal classes
• Bone density testing
• Regular monitoring of infants and children
• Dental screening and referrals
• Access to low cost well child exams through Partnership Health Center
• Referrals to over 250 local health and social services
• Breast pumps are given out for FREE!

Beneficiaries of the Montana WIC program can use WIC coupons at WIC authorized food markets as well as grocery stores that participate. Amount of food and even the type of food is determined by whether there is a pregnant woman, a breastfeeding woman, an infant or a child between the ages of 1 to 5 years in the household.

Eligibility Requirements

If you are a resident of the State of Montana and are planning to apply for WIC benefits you must meet the laid down eligibility guidelines listed here below. Eligibility guidelines are narrowed to categorical, residential, income and nutrition risk. You can contact your local WIC office by visiting their website at: https://www.wicoffice.net/search-nearest-wic-office, or call them at 1-800-433-4298.

Remember if you live in Montana and you are caring for young children regardless of whether you are a mother, father, grandparent, legal guardian or foster parent, you are encouraged to apply to the Montana WIC Program.

Categorical Requirements:

• Pregnant women, mothers and fathers with an infant or child under the age of 5 and foster parent(s)/guardian(s) with an infant or child under the age of 5 can apply for the children.
  
• Postpartum women who are breastfeeding can apply until their infants turn one year old.
  
• Postpartum women who are not breastfeeding can apply until their infants are 6 months old.
  
• People who are applying for Montana WIC benefits must live in the state. The amount of time living in Montana or the local service area is not required for applicants to meet the WIC residency requirement.
  
• All WIC applicants must be seen by a health professional such as a nurse, physician, or nutritionist so they can determine if the applicant is at nutrition risk. Some examples for nutrition risk are anemia (low blood levels), underweight, or history of poor pregnancy outcome.

Income Requirements

In order for you to be eligible for WIC in Montana, your income must be below a level or standard set by the state of Montana. Eligibility can also be automatically based on participation in certain programs. In the below chart please find the current Montana Income guidelines.

Household Size	Annual Income Limit
1	$20,665
2	$27,991
3	$35,317
4	$42,643
5	$49,969
6	$57,295
7	$64,621
8	$71,947

For households with more people, please add $7,326 in gross annual income for each additional person.

Remember, participating in WIC does not reduce Food Stamps or TANF benefits. It is not a must for you to participate in any other welfare program in order for you to participate in WIC.

WIC Application Instructions

WIC Montana has got no application documents to complete in order for you to be enrolled in the WIC program. It is therefore a must that you schedule a Certification Appointment with your local WIC agency to see if you and other qualifying family members are eligible to receive WIC benefits. You must avail yourself in person together with all the other family members applying for WIC to the appointment.

A health worker will have you and your child go through a nutrition screening d during your appointment. This will include a measurement of weight, height, and hemoglobin (a quick finger stick). The same health worker will talk to you about good nutrition and healthy eating, breastfeeding and any special nutrition and health concerns your family might have. If the health worker approves you to receive WIC, you will start receiving WIC benefits to purchase healthy foods for you and/or your child. Another appointment will be scheduled for you to come back in 1-3 months for nutrition education based on the nutrition screening and to pick up more benefits.

Finding Montana WIC Service Locations to Apply

Every county has WIC locations. You can find specific locations near you at the Montana WIC website: https://signupwic.com/. You can contact your specific county to learn more about the WIC program application at this link: https://dphhs.mt.gov/ecfsd/wic/.