Transferring WIC from Massachusetts to Texas
The move does not cost you WIC. Your Massachusetts clinic issues a Verification of Certification on request, and that document enrolls you with Texas Health and Human Services in Texas for the rest of your certification period. Without it you can still apply fresh, but the VOC skips the income re-check.
Official Texas WIC agency: Texas 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 Massachusetts, ask your local WIC program 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 line: 1-800-942-1007.
Massachusetts Department of Public 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 Texas 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 ↗
Massachusetts vs Texas: the numbers that decide it
| Massachusetts (old state) | Texas (new state) | |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | Massachusetts WIC | Texas WIC |
| Agency | Massachusetts Department of Public Health | Texas 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 (Massachusetts) and 2026-08-08 (Texas) 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 Massachusetts → Texas 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 Texas enrolls you without a new income screening until your certification period ends.
What if I forgot to get a VOC before leaving Massachusetts?
Call your old Massachusetts clinic — many can send the VOC or verify your certification for Texas Health and Human Services directly. If that fails, you can apply fresh in Texas; WIC's income limit is the same 185% of the federal poverty level in every state.
Will my Massachusetts WIC benefits card work in Texas?
No — WIC benefits are issued on each state's own system, so the Massachusetts card stops working. Your certification transfers via the VOC; Texas Health and Human Services reissues the food benefits on Texas's system.
Where do I actually apply in Texas?
Through Texas 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.
- USDA FNA — Massachusetts WIC state agency contact — accessed 2026-08-08
- Mass.gov — WIC Nutrition Program — accessed 2026-08-08
- Texas WIC (Texas Health and Human Services) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Texas WIC — Apply — accessed 2026-08-08