Transferring WIC from Alaska to Montana
WIC transfers through the VOC card. Ask your current Alaska clinic for a Verification of Certification before leaving; Montana is federally required to accept it in place of a new eligibility screening. Your Alaska-issued food benefits stop working, but the certification itself moves intact.
Official Montana WIC agency: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (Early Childhood and Family Support Division) ↗ (application page)
Your step-by-step checklist
Before you move
- 1
Ask your current WIC clinic for a VOC card
Before leaving Alaska, ask your local WIC clinic for a Verification of Certification (VOC) card; the new state must accept it and honor the rest of your certification period (7 CFR 246.7).
Alaska Department of Health, Division of Public Assistance ↗
Moving week
- 2
Carry the VOC with your moving documents
Your current state's WIC food benefits stop working after you leave its issuing system, but the VOC keeps your certification alive.
After you arrive
- 3
Contact Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (Early Childhood and Family Support Division) and book a transfer appointment
Bring the VOC and proof of your new address. With a valid VOC you are enrolled without a new income screening until your current certification period ends. Stated timing: up to 20 days.
Find a clinic / apply ↗
Alaska vs Montana: the numbers that decide it
| Alaska (old state) | Montana (new state) | |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | Alaska WIC | Montana WIC |
| Agency | Alaska Department of Health, Division of Public Assistance | Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (Early Childhood and Family Support Division) |
| Income limit | 185% of the federal poverty level (federal, same in every state) | 185% of the federal poverty level (federal, same in every state) |
| Accepts VOC transfer card | Yes (federally required) | Yes (federally required) |
Verified 2026-08-08 (Alaska) and 2026-08-08 (Montana) against the official sources cited below.
Moving with more than one benefit?
The checklist generator merges Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, unemployment, and TANF into one ordered to-do list for this exact move.
Build the full Alaska → Montana checklistCommon questions
What exactly is the VOC card?
The Verification of Certification is a document your current WIC clinic issues that proves you are certified. Federal rules (7 CFR 246.7) require every state agency to accept it, so Montana enrolls you without a new income screening until your certification period ends.
What if I forgot to get a VOC before leaving Alaska?
Call your old Alaska clinic — many can send the VOC or verify your certification for Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (Early Childhood and Family Support Division) directly. If that fails, you can apply fresh in Montana; WIC's income limit is the same 185% of the federal poverty level in every state.
Will my Alaska WIC benefits card work in Montana?
No — WIC benefits are issued on each state's own system, so the Alaska card stops working. Your certification transfers via the VOC; Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (Early Childhood and Family Support Division) reissues the food benefits on Montana's system.
Where do I actually apply in Montana?
Through Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (Early Childhood and Family Support Division) (online application linked above). Official WIC pages for both states are cited at the bottom of this page.
Related guides
Official sources
Every fact above was checked against these official pages. Last verified.
- USDA FNS — Alaska WIC contacts — accessed 2026-08-08
- Alaska DOH — WIC Program — accessed 2026-08-08
- Montana DPHHS WIC — accessed 2026-08-08