Transferring WIC from Illinois to South Carolina
WIC is the one benefit that travels well. Before leaving Illinois, ask your clinic for a Verification of Certification (VOC) card — every state must accept it. Hand it to South Carolina Department of Public Health at a transfer appointment and your certification continues in South Carolina without a new income screening.
Official South Carolina WIC agency: South Carolina Department of Public Health ↗
Your step-by-step checklist
Before you move
- 1
Ask your current WIC clinic for a VOC card
Before you leave Illinois, ask your local WIC clinic for a Verification of Certification (VOC) card for each enrolled family member — every state must accept a valid VOC (7 CFR 246.7), so your certification moves with you. Illinois maintains a dedicated VOC line at the state WIC office: (217) 782-2166.
Illinois Department of Human Services ↗
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 South Carolina Department of Public 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.
South Carolina Department of Public Health ↗
Illinois vs South Carolina: the numbers that decide it
| Illinois (old state) | South Carolina (new state) | |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | Illinois WIC | South Carolina WIC |
| Agency | Illinois Department of Human Services | South Carolina Department of Public 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 (Illinois) and 2026-08-08 (South Carolina) 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 Illinois → South Carolina 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 South Carolina enrolls you without a new income screening until your certification period ends.
What if I forgot to get a VOC before leaving Illinois?
Call your old Illinois clinic — many can send the VOC or verify your certification for South Carolina Department of Public Health directly. If that fails, you can apply fresh in South Carolina; WIC's income limit is the same 185% of the federal poverty level in every state.
Will my Illinois WIC benefits card work in South Carolina?
No — WIC benefits are issued on each state's own system, so the Illinois card stops working. Your certification transfers via the VOC; South Carolina Department of Public Health reissues the food benefits on South Carolina's system.
Where do I actually apply in South Carolina?
Through South Carolina Department of Public Health. 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.
- IDHS — Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) — accessed 2026-08-08
- USDA FNA — Illinois WIC state agency contact — accessed 2026-08-08
- USDA FNS — South Carolina WIC state agency contact — accessed 2026-08-08
- SC Department of Public Health — WIC Nutrition Program — accessed 2026-08-08