Transferring WIC from Louisiana to New York
Mostly yes. The certification transfers via a VOC card from your Louisiana clinic; the benefits themselves are reissued by New York's system. Two steps: request the VOC before moving, then bring it (plus proof of your new address) to New York State Department of Health. Income is not re-checked just because you moved.
Official New York WIC agency: New York State Department of Health ↗ (application page)
Your step-by-step checklist
Before you move
- 1
Ask your current WIC clinic for a VOC card
Before you leave Louisiana, 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). Statewide WIC info line: 1-800-251-2229.
Louisiana 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 New York State 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.
Find a clinic / apply ↗
Louisiana vs New York: the numbers that decide it
| Louisiana (old state) | New York (new state) | |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | Louisiana WIC | New York WIC |
| Agency | Louisiana Department of Health | New York State 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 Louisiana → New York 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 New York enrolls you without a new income screening until your certification period ends. If the New York 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 Louisiana?
Call your old Louisiana clinic — many can send the VOC or verify your certification for New York State Department of Health directly. If that fails, you can apply fresh in New York. The federal income test is 185% of the poverty guidelines in every state, and you meet it automatically once New York approves you for SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF.
Will my Louisiana WIC benefits card work in New York?
No — WIC benefits are issued on each state's own system, so the Louisiana card stops working. Your certification transfers via the VOC; New York State Department of Health reissues the food benefits on New York's system.
Where do I actually apply in New York?
Through New York State Department of Health (online application linked above). Official WIC pages for both states are cited at the bottom of this page.
Related guides
- Moving back: New York to Louisiana WIC
- WIC in Louisiana: leaving or arriving
- WIC in New York: leaving or arriving
- Moving with WIC: every state
- Louisiana to Hawaii WIC
- Louisiana to Iowa WIC
- Louisiana to Maine WIC
- Louisiana to Minnesota WIC
Other benefits on the same move
- Medicaid: Louisiana to New York
- SNAP: Louisiana to New York
- Unemployment: Louisiana to New York
- TANF: Louisiana to New York
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 .
- Louisiana WIC (Louisiana Department of Health) — accessed 2026-08-08
- USDA FNA — Louisiana WIC state agency contact — accessed 2026-08-08
- NYSDOH WIC Program — accessed 2026-08-08