Transferring WIC from Hawaii to Minnesota
Yes — WIC certification is portable by federal rule. The VOC card from your Hawaii clinic is the key: Minnesota must accept it, and Minnesota Department of Health will reissue benefits on its own system. Request the VOC early; clinics can print it at your last appointment before the move.
Official Minnesota WIC agency: Minnesota Department of Health ↗ (application page)
Your step-by-step checklist
Before you move
- 1
Ask your current WIC clinic for a VOC card
Before leaving Hawaii, 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).
Hawaii 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 Minnesota Department of Health 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 ↗
Hawaii vs Minnesota: the numbers that decide it
| Hawaii (old state) | Minnesota (new state) | |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | Hawaii WIC | Minnesota WIC |
| Agency | Hawaii Department of Health | Minnesota Department of Health |
| 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 (Hawaii) and 2026-08-08 (Minnesota) 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 Hawaii → Minnesota 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 Minnesota enrolls you without a new income screening until your certification period ends.
What if I forgot to get a VOC before leaving Hawaii?
Call your old Hawaii clinic — many can send the VOC or verify your certification for Minnesota Department of Health directly. If that fails, you can apply fresh in Minnesota; WIC's income limit is the same 185% of the federal poverty level in every state.
Will my Hawaii WIC benefits card work in Minnesota?
No — WIC benefits are issued on each state's own system, so the Hawaii card stops working. Your certification transfers via the VOC; Minnesota Department of Health reissues the food benefits on Minnesota's system.
Where do I actually apply in Minnesota?
Through Minnesota Department of Health (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 — Hawaii WIC contacts — accessed 2026-08-08
- Hawaii DOH — WIC — accessed 2026-08-08
- Minnesota Department of Health — WIC — accessed 2026-08-08
- USDA FNA — Minnesota WIC state agency contact — accessed 2026-08-08