WIC Benefits for Foster Families
Foster children up to the age of 5 qualify for WIC and its healthy food benefits, nutrition education, infant feeding support and referrals to community resources.
Eligibility for Foster Children
Foster children are considered a family of one. Their income is the total amount provided to the foster family for the child. The foster family’s income is not assessed when determining WIC eligibility for the foster child.
When can I enroll?
Resource families can enroll their foster child for WIC services as soon as the child is placed with them. The resource family will be asked to provide the WIC counselor with placement documentation. If the child is already receiving WIC with a different resource family or with a parent/caregiver that no longer has custody, the WIC office will search using the child’s name and birth date. This allows them to locate the child’s file and transfer it to the current foster parent.
Orientation
When a resource parent is applying for WIC, the WIC representative will explain how the resource family will receive an orientation to WIC services. This is mandatory whether or not the child has an active file, because the resource parent needs to know how to use the benefits and understand their Rights and Responsibilities.
Foster and Non-Foster Children
If a family has both foster and non-foster children, they will have two WIC accounts.
The foster child will be considered a family of one and their income eligibility is determined by the total amount provided to the resource family for the child.Â
The non-foster children’s family size includes the parents and other household non-foster family members. General eligibility requirements are found here.
Both foster and non-foster children must meet age, residence, and nutritional need guidelines. Â
These same requirements are to be followed if a family adopts foster children, although if a child keeps their Medi-Cal insurance and is still younger than 5, they may be eligible for WIC regardless of the family’s income.
Transfer of Benefits
Sometimes, a foster child is already receiving benefits with another family when being placed with a new family. Please contact our WIC counselors if this is the case, or if you are unsure.Â
