Transferring WIC from District of Columbia to Arkansas
Mostly yes. The certification transfers via a VOC card from your District of Columbia clinic; the benefits themselves are reissued by Arkansas's system. Two steps: request the VOC before moving, then bring it (plus proof of your new address) to Arkansas Department of Health. Income is not re-checked just because you moved.
Official Arkansas WIC agency: Arkansas Department of Health ↗
Your step-by-step checklist
Before you move
- 1
Ask your current WIC clinic for a VOC card
Before leaving the District, ask your 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).
DC Health (District of Columbia 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 Arkansas Department of Health 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.
Arkansas Department of Health ↗
District of Columbia vs Arkansas: the numbers that decide it
| District of Columbia (old state) | Arkansas (new state) | |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | DC WIC | Arkansas WIC |
| Agency | DC Health (District of Columbia Department of Health) | Arkansas Department of Health |
| 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 District of Columbia → Arkansas 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 Arkansas enrolls you without a new income screening until your certification period ends. If the Arkansas 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 District of Columbia?
Call your old District of Columbia clinic — many can send the VOC or verify your certification for Arkansas Department of Health directly. If that fails, you can apply fresh in Arkansas. The federal income test is 185% of the poverty guidelines in every state, and you meet it automatically once Arkansas approves you for SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF.
Will my District of Columbia WIC benefits card work in Arkansas?
No — WIC benefits are issued on each state's own system, so the District of Columbia card stops working. Your certification transfers via the VOC; Arkansas Department of Health reissues the food benefits on Arkansas's system.
Where do I actually apply in Arkansas?
Through Arkansas Department of Health. Official WIC pages for both states are cited at the bottom of this page.
Related guides
- Moving back: Arkansas to District of Columbia WIC
- WIC in District of Columbia: leaving or arriving
- WIC in Arkansas: leaving or arriving
- Moving with WIC: every state
- District of Columbia to Georgia WIC
- District of Columbia to Indiana WIC
- District of Columbia to Arizona WIC
- District of Columbia to Connecticut WIC
Other benefits on the same move
- Medicaid: District of Columbia to Arkansas
- SNAP: District of Columbia to Arkansas
- Unemployment: District of Columbia to Arkansas
- TANF: District of Columbia to Arkansas
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 .
- DC WIC (DC Health) — accessed 2026-08-08
- DC WIC — Clinic Locations — accessed 2026-08-08
- Arkansas Department of Health — WIC — accessed 2026-08-08