Does Walmart Take WIC In 2022? [All You Need To Know!]
Walmart is well-known for having low prices on a wide variety of items. This makes the retailer popular for many shoppers, especially those looking to stretch their budget. But can you use supplemental nutrition benefits like WIC at Walmart? Read on for a comprehensive guide on whether and how Walmart accepts WIC.
What is WIC?
WIC stands for Women, Infants, and Children. It is a federal assistance program that provides food vouchers and nutrition education for low-income pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk.
WIC eligibility is based on income and certain nutritional risk factors. Applicants must fall within WIC income guidelines, which are set at 185% of the U.S. Poverty Income Guidelines. They must also be individually evaluated by a health professional to determine nutrition risk.
The WIC program provides participants with checks or electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards to purchase specific nutrient-rich foods each month. These include milk, cheese, cereal, juice, eggs, peanut butter, beans/peas, and infant formula.
Does Walmart Accept WIC?
The short answer is yes, most Walmart locations accept WIC benefits as of 2022. However, some locations may not participate, so it‘s best to confirm with your local store before shopping with WIC.
WIC benefits cannot be used for online Walmart grocery orders. They must be used in-person at participating brick-and-mortar Walmart and Walmart Supercenter stores.
What Foods Can You Buy With WIC at Walmart?
WIC benefits cover a specific list of foods that provide key nutrients for women, infants, and young children. Here are the types of foods that can be purchased with WIC benefits at Walmart:
- Infant cereal – Iron-fortified single grain cereals like rice, oatmeal, or barley
- Adult cereal – Whole grain cereals like Cheerios, Wheaties, corn flakes
- Juice – 100% fruit or vegetable juices like orange, apple, grape, carrot
- Eggs – Fresh, refrigerated large grade A eggs
- Milk – Fluid whole, 2%, 1%, or nonfat milk
- Cheese – Sliced, block, or string cheese made with pasteurized milk
- Peanut butter – 16 to 18 oz containers of peanut butter
- Canned fish – Pink salmon, sardines, mackerel, tuna
- Beans/Peas – Canned or dried beans, peas, lentils
- Soy beverages – Shelf-stable 32 oz packages
- Tofu – 16 oz packages of firm/extra firm tofu
- Fruits & vegetables – Fresh, frozen, or canned fruits/veggies
- Baby foods – Fruits, vegetables, meats and combo foods in jars
- Whole wheat bread – 16 oz loaves or packages of whole wheat bread
To make WIC-eligible items easy to identify, many Walmarts place shelf tags or signs indicating which products can be purchased with WIC benefits.
How to Use WIC at Walmart
Using your WIC benefits at Walmart checkout is easy. Just follow these steps:
Separate your WIC items from other purchases – Keep your WIC items together on the conveyor belt, separate from non-WIC items.
Have WIC items scanned first – Ask the cashier to scan your WIC items through the register first, before your other groceries.
Pay with WIC card – When prompted for payment, provide your WIC EBT card and enter your 4-digit PIN. Do not swipe any other form of payment for your WIC items.
Review receipt – Check your receipt to ensure all WIC purchases are eligible WIC items.
If you accidentally pay for an ineligible item with your WIC card, ask the cashier to void that item and pay for it separately with another form of payment.
Can You Use WIC at Walmart Self-Checkout?
The great news is that you can use your WIC benefits at Walmart self-checkout registers. The process is very similar to using it in a normal checkout lane.
Here are some tips for using WIC at Walmart self-checkout:
Scan all your items together – you don‘t have to separate WIC from non-WIC items.
When prompted for payment, select "Pay with WIC Card" and insert your EBT card.
Enter your 4-digit PIN when required.
Review the printed receipts – any non-WIC items will be listed separately.
If you accidentally purchased a non-WIC item with your WIC card, you‘ll need to void that item and pay for it separately. Ask the attendant for assistance.
The advantage of self-checkout is you don‘t have to organize your items into WIC and non-WIC groups on the belt. Just scan everything together and the register will separate WIC items automatically.
Conclusion
Walmart accepts WIC benefits at most store locations, making it easy for families to use their supplemental nutrition vouchers. While WIC can‘t be used online, in-store Walmart checkout is designed to conveniently accommodate WIC cards.
With self-checkout now available for WIC purchases, using your benefits at Walmart is quicker than ever. Just remember to review your receipt afterward to ensure you only used WIC to buy eligible items.
So next time you need to stock up on nutritious WIC staples, from fruit and veggies to eggs and peanut butter, head to your local Walmart store. Chances are you‘ll get more bang for your WIC benefits buck thanks to Walmart‘s everyday low prices.
