California WIC: 2026–27 Income Limits and Moving In or Out
Moving TO California
Moving to California with WIC? Bring a Verification of Certification (VOC) from your old clinic and California Department of Public Health must honor it — you keep your certification without a new income screening until the period ends, and if the clinic has a waiting list, you go to the top of it.
Leaving California
Before leaving California, ask your WIC clinic for a Verification of Certification (VOC). Every other state is federally required to accept it, so your certification continues after the move.
Official agency: California Department of Public Health ↗ (application page)
California WIC at a glance
| Program name | California WIC |
|---|---|
| Income limit | 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) |
| Processing | Certification is normally completed at the clinic appointment itself; federal rules require an eligibility decision within 20 days of the request. |
California WIC income limits by household size (2026–27)
California uses the federal maximum WIC income limit, 185% of the federal poverty level. These figures apply July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027.
| Household size | Yearly | Monthly | Weekly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $29,526 | $2,461 | $568 |
| 2 people | $40,034 | $3,337 | $770 |
| 3 people | $50,542 | $4,212 | $972 |
| 4 people | $61,050 | $5,088 | $1,175 |
| 5 people | $71,558 | $5,964 | $1,377 |
| 6 people | $82,066 | $6,839 | $1,579 |
| 7 people | $92,574 | $7,715 | $1,781 |
| 8 people | $103,082 | $8,591 | $1,983 |
| Each additional person | +$10,508 | +$876 | +$203 |
- Computed from the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines (48 contiguous states and DC) exactly as USDA's 2026–27 WIC notice does: × 1.85, rounded up to the dollar.
- A pregnant woman counts each unborn child in her household size.
- You automatically meet the WIC income test if you get SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF, if your family gets TANF, or if a pregnant woman or infant in your family gets Medicaid.
Federal source: USDA WIC Income Eligibility Guidelines 2026–27 (91 FR 23050) (published 2026-04-29)
How to apply for WIC in California
Apply with California Department of Public Health online at myfamily.wic.ca.gov, which runs the program as California WIC. Go to the official application page ↗
Processing time: Certification is normally completed at the clinic appointment itself; federal rules require an eligibility decision within 20 days of the request.
Common questions
What is the WIC income limit in California?
185% of the federal poverty level: $40,034 a year for a household of two and $61,050 for a household of four, for July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027. You also meet the income test automatically if you get SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF, if your family gets TANF, or if a pregnant woman or infant in your family gets Medicaid.
Does my California WIC card work in another state?
Generally no — a WIC card works only at stores authorized by the state that issued it. Before you leave California, get a Verification of Certification (VOC) from your clinic; the new state's WIC clinic must accept it and enroll you there.
How do I apply for WIC in California?
Apply with California Department of Public Health online at myfamily.wic.ca.gov, which runs the program as California WIC. Processing time: certification is normally completed at the clinic appointment itself; federal rules require an eligibility decision within 20 days of the request.
Who runs WIC in California?
California Department of Public Health, which runs the program as California WIC. The official page and application link are cited below — always act through them.
Does California make new residents wait for WIC?
No state may impose a residency waiting period for WIC. You apply as soon as you live in California; eligibility is decided on California's own rules.
Where do I report that I'm leaving California?
Tell your local WIC clinic you are moving out of state — California policy (WPPM 250-10) requires staff to print and sign a Verification of Certification (VOC) from WIC WISE and issue it to you before you leave. If you have already moved, your old clinic or CDPH/WIC must send the VOC to you or your new agency on request; no consent form is required.
Every move involving California
From California to…
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
To California from…
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Other benefits in California
- Medicaid in California
- SNAP in California
- Unemployment in California
- TANF in California
- WIC in every state
- State benefits statistics
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 .
- CDPH — WIC Program — accessed 2026-08-08
- MyFamily — California WIC — accessed 2026-08-08
- CDPH WPPM 250-10 Verification of Certification (rev. 2025-04-15) — accessed 2026-08-08