Transferring WIC from Kentucky to Tennessee
Unlike Medicaid or SNAP, WIC has a real transfer mechanism: the Verification of Certification. Get one from your Kentucky clinic, then contact Tennessee Department of Health for a transfer appointment. With a valid VOC, Tennessee enrolls you without re-checking income until your certification period runs out.
Official Tennessee WIC agency: Tennessee Department of Health ↗
Your step-by-step checklist
Before you move
- 1
Ask your current WIC clinic for a VOC card
Before you leave Kentucky, ask your local health department 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). Kentucky runs a dedicated toll-free VOC line: 1-877-597-0367.
Kentucky Department for Public Health (Cabinet for Health and Family 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 Tennessee 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.
Tennessee Department of Health ↗
Kentucky vs Tennessee: the numbers that decide it
| Kentucky (old state) | Tennessee (new state) | |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | Kentucky WIC | Tennessee WIC |
| Agency | Kentucky Department for Public Health (Cabinet for Health and Family Services) | Tennessee 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 (Kentucky) and 2026-08-08 (Tennessee) 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 Kentucky → Tennessee 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 Tennessee enrolls you without a new income screening until your certification period ends.
What if I forgot to get a VOC before leaving Kentucky?
Call your old Kentucky clinic — many can send the VOC or verify your certification for Tennessee Department of Health directly. If that fails, you can apply fresh in Tennessee; WIC's income limit is the same 185% of the federal poverty level in every state.
Will my Kentucky WIC benefits card work in Tennessee?
No — WIC benefits are issued on each state's own system, so the Kentucky card stops working. Your certification transfers via the VOC; Tennessee Department of Health reissues the food benefits on Tennessee's system.
Where do I actually apply in Tennessee?
Through Tennessee Department of 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.
- USDA FNA — Kentucky WIC state agency contact — accessed 2026-08-08
- Kentucky CHFS — WIC (Nutrition Services Branch) — accessed 2026-08-08
- TN Department of Health — Tennessee WIC Program — accessed 2026-08-08