WIC GUIDELINES HAVE BEEN EXPANDED

(04/22/2008)
West Virginia has raised the limit on how much a household can earn to join a special WIC supplemental nutrition program.

The Women, Infants and Children program is designed to help prevent malnutrition for families with children age five or younger and those who are expecting a baby.

Coupons allow participants to buy specific products at grocery stores, including baby formula, milk, cheese, cereal and juice.

A family of two can receive benefits if their income is no more than $25,900.

That's $573 higher than last year, the ceiling based on federal guidelines.

Rising grocery prices mean higher bills for the program, but assistant director Cindy Pillo says participants will receive the same amount of benefits as last year while the state absorbs the increase.