Transferring WIC from Minnesota to Michigan
Your WIC certification survives the move — the food benefits switch systems. Request a VOC card from your Minnesota clinic before you go; it is your proof of enrollment. In Michigan, book an appointment with Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, bring the VOC and your new address, and benefits resume.
Official Michigan WIC agency: Michigan Department of 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 Minnesota, 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). State WIC line: 1-800-657-3942.
Minnesota 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 Michigan Department of Health and Human Services 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 ↗
Minnesota vs Michigan: the numbers that decide it
| Minnesota (old state) | Michigan (new state) | |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | Minnesota WIC | Michigan WIC |
| Agency | Minnesota Department of Health | Michigan Department of Health and Human Services |
| 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 Minnesota → Michigan 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 Michigan enrolls you without a new income screening until your certification period ends. If the Michigan 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 Minnesota?
Call your old Minnesota clinic — many can send the VOC or verify your certification for Michigan Department of Health and Human Services directly. If that fails, you can apply fresh in Michigan. The federal income test is 185% of the poverty guidelines in every state, and you meet it automatically once Michigan approves you for SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF.
Will my Minnesota WIC benefits card work in Michigan?
No — WIC benefits are issued on each state's own system, so the Minnesota card stops working. Your certification transfers via the VOC; Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reissues the food benefits on Michigan's system.
Where do I actually apply in Michigan?
Through Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (online application linked above). Official WIC pages for both states are cited at the bottom of this page.
Related guides
- Moving back: Michigan to Minnesota WIC
- WIC in Minnesota: leaving or arriving
- WIC in Michigan: leaving or arriving
- Moving with WIC: every state
- Minnesota to Alaska WIC
- Minnesota to West Virginia WIC
- Minnesota to Utah WIC
- Minnesota to South Carolina WIC
Other benefits on the same move
- Medicaid: Minnesota to Michigan
- SNAP: Minnesota to Michigan
- Unemployment: Minnesota to Michigan
- TANF: Minnesota to Michigan
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 .
- Minnesota Department of Health — WIC — accessed 2026-08-08
- USDA FNA — Minnesota WIC state agency contact — accessed 2026-08-08
- USDA FNA — Michigan WIC state agency contact — accessed 2026-08-08
- MDHHS — WIC — accessed 2026-08-08