Transferring WIC from Maine to Washington
Your WIC certification survives the move — the food benefits switch systems. Request a VOC card from your Maine clinic before you go; it is your proof of enrollment. In Washington, book an appointment with Washington State Department of Health, bring the VOC and your new address, and benefits resume.
Official Washington WIC agency: Washington 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 Maine, ask your local WIC agency for a Verification of Certification (VOC) card for each enrolled family member — every state must accept a valid VOC (7 CFR 246.7). State WIC office: 207-287-3991 or 1-800-437-9300.
Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine DHHS) ↗
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 Washington 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 ↗
Maine vs Washington: the numbers that decide it
| Maine (old state) | Washington (new state) | |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | Maine WIC | Washington WIC |
| Agency | Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine DHHS) | Washington 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 Maine → Washington 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 Washington enrolls you without a new income screening until your certification period ends. If the Washington 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 Maine?
Call your old Maine clinic — many can send the VOC or verify your certification for Washington State Department of Health directly. If that fails, you can apply fresh in Washington. The federal income test is 185% of the poverty guidelines in every state, and you meet it automatically once Washington approves you for SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF.
Will my Maine WIC benefits card work in Washington?
No — WIC benefits are issued on each state's own system, so the Maine card stops working. Your certification transfers via the VOC; Washington State Department of Health reissues the food benefits on Washington's system.
Where do I actually apply in Washington?
Through Washington 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: Washington to Maine WIC
- WIC in Maine: leaving or arriving
- WIC in Washington: leaving or arriving
- Moving with WIC: every state
- Maine to Rhode Island WIC
- Maine to Ohio WIC
- Maine to New Mexico WIC
- Maine to Nebraska WIC
Other benefits on the same move
- Medicaid: Maine to Washington
- SNAP: Maine to Washington
- Unemployment: Maine to Washington
- TANF: Maine to Washington
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 .
- Maine CDC — WIC Nutrition Program — accessed 2026-08-08
- USDA FNA — Maine WIC state agency contact — accessed 2026-08-08
- WA Department of Health — WIC Nutrition Program — accessed 2026-08-08
- WA WIC — Apply for WIC — accessed 2026-08-08