MANY ELIGIBLE FOR WIC DON’T ENROLL

WIC provides access to high-nutrition foods for kids, mothers, and pregnant women with incomes of 185% or less of poverty. But a study from the University of New Hampshire's Carsey School of Public Policy finds only about 43% of those eligible for WIC benefits receive them. Among eligible families, receipt of WIC benefits was more likely among families in which the head of household was poorer, less educated, non-white, unmarried, or unemployed. About half of eligible families living at less than 50% of the poverty line and one-third living between 100% and 185% of poverty received WIC benefits. Participation in WIC was greater in rural than urban areas (46 versus 42%) with rural foreign-born families reported higher rates of WIC receipt than their urban counterparts (54% versus 44%).

Source: Carsey School of Public Policy, 7/20/16, WIC Enrollment