Transferring WIC from Louisiana to North Dakota
WIC transfers through the VOC card. Ask your current Louisiana clinic for a Verification of Certification before leaving; North Dakota is federally required to accept it in place of a new eligibility screening. Your Louisiana-issued food benefits stop working, but the certification itself moves intact.
Official North Dakota WIC agency: North Dakota Health and Human Services ↗ (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 North Dakota Health and Human Services 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 ↗
Louisiana vs North Dakota: the numbers that decide it
| Louisiana (old state) | North Dakota (new state) | |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | Louisiana WIC | North Dakota WIC |
| Agency | Louisiana Department of Health | North Dakota Health and Human Services |
| 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 (Louisiana) and 2026-08-08 (North Dakota) 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 Louisiana → North Dakota 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 North Dakota enrolls you without a new income screening until your certification period ends.
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 North Dakota Health and Human Services directly. If that fails, you can apply fresh in North Dakota; WIC's income limit is the same 185% of the federal poverty level in every state.
Will my Louisiana WIC benefits card work in North Dakota?
No — WIC benefits are issued on each state's own system, so the Louisiana card stops working. Your certification transfers via the VOC; North Dakota Health and Human Services reissues the food benefits on North Dakota's system.
Where do I actually apply in North Dakota?
Through North Dakota Health and Human Services (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.
- Louisiana WIC (Louisiana Department of Health) — accessed 2026-08-08
- USDA FNA — Louisiana WIC state agency contact — accessed 2026-08-08
- North Dakota HHS WIC — accessed 2026-08-08
- ND WIC — apply — accessed 2026-08-08