WIC COVID-19 Updates

Massachusetts WIC is responding to COVID-19. Learn about updates to services.

The Women, Infants, & Children Nutrition Program (WIC) is committed to providing families with continued support now and in the days ahead.

All WIC Programs are able to provide all services by phone to align with social distancing efforts. If you have provided your local program with your email and cell phone number, you will receive notifications about important program updates by email and/or text. You can check your eligibility and apply for WIC online.

Our website will be kept up-to-date as well. Contact your local WIC office with any questions about breastfeeding, nutrition or shopping.

Table of Contents

Check eligibility and apply online

WIC welcomes families at any time. You can check out WIC's eligibility page to see if you and your family are eligible, and apply online for WIC services. Parents, grandparents and foster parents may apply for children who are in their care. Contact your local WIC office serving your community. 

WIC phone appointments

As part of our COVID-19 response, WIC will do appointments by phone to align with social distancing efforts in Massachusetts. WIC is committed to providing families with continued support now and in the days ahead.

The following information will help WIC families complete WIC phone appointments successfully. 

What to expect

A WIC staff member will call you at the phone number you provided to your local WIC office. You will be asked a series of personal questions, so find a private, quiet space to complete the appointment.  The WIC staff member will enter information into a computer, so you may experience short delays during the conversation. 

Internet Access

If possible, have this page open in order to make it easier to access the information needed to complete the appointment. You may also be asked to send images of documents electronically to your local office's secure email. The WIC staff person will let you know what you need to do to complete the appointment by phone. 

Other Information Needed

If you have measurements for height/length, weight or an iron check from a recent doctor visit, you can share those with the WIC staff person. If you do not have any recent measurements, the appointment will be completed without them. 

Additional Resources

Food List Changes in Response to Coronavirus (COVID-19)

WIC is working with stores to ensure contract infant formula is available. Please check at customer service if the infant formula shelf is empty. We are aware that there are periods when food and formula are not immediately available on the shelves; please be patient with your grocers as they are working hard to stock their shelves.

We know that some WIC foods have been difficult to find at times and shopping for WIC foods can be challenging. To help ease the shopping experience, we are pleased to announce WIC Cards can now be used at the Self-Checkout lanes at:

  • Price Rite
  • Shaw’s
  • Star Market
  • Stop & Shop Supermarkets
  • Walmart Supercenter

Please see Find WIC Approved Stores or the “WIC Stores” icon on the WICShopper App for a complete listing of all authorized WIC retailers. You can download the WICShopper app at www.ebtshopper.com.

In addition, WIC has increased the allowable options for eggs, yogurt and cereal and has temporarily expanded our food list to include additional options for whole grain bread:

Whole wheat/whole grain bread

Allowable sizes now include 20 oz. loaves.

Brands include:

  • Market Basket Whole Wheat 
  • Nature's Own Whole Wheat
  • Sara Lee Classic Whole Wheat

(Can be purchased with benefits for “16 oz. Bread/Whole Grains”.)

Check the expanded WIC Approved Food Guide for a complete listing of WIC foods.

In addition, please be aware that if the store brand of fluid milk in the dairy case is not available, you are able to purchase the equivalent name-brand product with your WIC benefits. Organic and specialty milks, however, are not authorized.

Get in touch

Call us at (800)-942-1007 or (617)-721-6601 weekdays Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  If you hear a recording, please leave a message with your name and telephone number, and we will respond the same business day. You can also email us with any questions about WIC nutrition services and enrollment.

Call your Local WIC Office. All local programs are answering phones and/or returning messages. Or you can email your Local WIC Program directly. Download the list: WIC Local Program Email Addresses 

Additional Resources

Contact   for WIC COVID-19 Updates

Online

Call Local WIC Office: WIC Information for Participants 
Or email Local WIC Office (XLSX): WIC-Local-Program-Email-Addresses.xlsx 

Phone

Monday through Friday 9 a.m.–5 p.m. If you hear a recording, please leave a message with your name and telephone number. You can also call your Local WIC Office directly. All local programs are answering phones and/or returning messages.

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