California WIC
California WIC is the largest WIC program in the nation, offering families access to healthy food, expert advice, and resources. We are here to provide support every step of the way, whether you are pregnant, caring for a new baby, or raising young children. WIC has helped families like yours with healthy food, nutrition tips, and expert guidance on breastfeeding and chestfeeding.
If you are pregnant, have recently had a baby, or care for a child under age 5, or have experienced a recent pregnancy loss, you may qualify for WIC if you have a low-to-medium income or receive Medi-Cal, CalWORKs, or CalFresh benefits. WIC supports families of all backgrounds.
The California WIC program is safe for immigrants and does not impact an individual's immigration status, including public charge considerations. This is because WIC provides supplemental food and nutritional support, which are not considered a factor in public charge determinations. WIC and public charge key reassurances:
- WIC is not considered in public charge: WIC has been officially and repeatedly excluded from public charge considerations. Immigration officials will not count WIC benefits against you when assessing your immigration case, such as when applying for a green card.
- No citizenship required: You do not need to be a U.S. citizen to apply for or receive WIC benefits. WIC's eligibility is based on income and nutritional risk, not immigration status.
- Information is confidential: All personal information shared with the WIC program, including your name and address, is kept confidential and is not shared with immigration agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
- No impact on family members: Even if your U.S. citizen children receive WIC benefits, it will not affect your own immigration case or public charge determination.
- Exemptions for many immigrants: Many immigrant categories are already exempt from the public charge test, including refugees, asylum seekers, and applicants for U and T visas.
