Transferring WIC from Arkansas to Alaska
Yes, with one document. Your Arkansas WIC clinic issues a VOC (Verification of Certification) on request, federal rules require Alaska to honor it, and your enrollment carries to Alaska Department of Health, Division of Public Assistance until your current certification period ends. Get the VOC before the move — it saves re-proving income.
Official Alaska WIC agency: Alaska Department of Health, Division of Public Assistance ↗
Your step-by-step checklist
Before you move
- 1
Ask your current WIC clinic for a VOC card
Before leaving Arkansas, ask your local health unit 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).
Arkansas Department of Health ↗
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 Alaska Department of Health, Division of Public Assistance and book a transfer appointment
Bring the VOC and proof of your new address. The new clinic must accept a valid VOC as proof of eligibility for the rest of your certification period, so you do not repeat the income screening; if it has a waiting list, transferring participants go to the top of it. Stated timing: up to 20 days.
Alaska Department of Health, Division of Public Assistance ↗
Arkansas vs Alaska: the numbers that decide it
| Arkansas (old state) | Alaska (new state) | |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | Arkansas WIC | Alaska WIC |
| Agency | Arkansas Department of Health | Alaska Department of Health, Division of Public Assistance |
| Income limit | 185% of the federal poverty level (the federal maximum); met automatically if you get SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF | 185% of the federal poverty level (the federal maximum); met automatically if you get SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF |
| Accepts VOC transfer card | Yes (federally required) | Yes (federally required) |
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 Arkansas → Alaska 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 as proof of eligibility, so Alaska enrolls you without a new income screening until your certification period ends. If the Alaska clinic has a waiting list, a transferring participant with a VOC goes to the top of it.
What if I forgot to get a VOC before leaving Arkansas?
Call your old Arkansas clinic — many can send the VOC or verify your certification for Alaska Department of Health, Division of Public Assistance directly. If that fails, you can apply fresh in Alaska. The federal income test is 185% of the poverty guidelines in every state, and you meet it automatically once Alaska approves you for SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF.
Will my Arkansas WIC benefits card work in Alaska?
No — WIC benefits are issued on each state's own system, so the Arkansas card stops working. Your certification transfers via the VOC; Alaska Department of Health, Division of Public Assistance reissues the food benefits on Alaska's system.
Where do I actually apply in Alaska?
Through Alaska Department of Health, Division of Public Assistance. Official WIC pages for both states are cited at the bottom of this page.
Related guides
- Moving back: Alaska to Arkansas WIC
- WIC in Arkansas: leaving or arriving
- WIC in Alaska: leaving or arriving
- Moving with WIC: every state
- Arkansas to West Virginia WIC
- Arkansas to South Carolina WIC
- Arkansas to Utah WIC
- Arkansas to Illinois WIC
Other benefits on the same move
- Medicaid: Arkansas to Alaska
- SNAP: Arkansas to Alaska
- Unemployment: Arkansas to Alaska
- TANF: Arkansas to Alaska
Terms on this page: Federal poverty level (FPL) · Verification of Certification (VOC) · Certification period
Official sources
Every fact above was checked against these official pages. Last verified .
- Arkansas Department of Health — WIC — accessed 2026-08-08
- USDA FNS — Alaska WIC contacts — accessed 2026-08-08
- Alaska DOH — WIC Program — accessed 2026-08-08