Transferring WIC from Minnesota to Mississippi
Yes — WIC certification is portable by federal rule. The VOC card from your Minnesota clinic is the key: Mississippi must accept it, and Mississippi State Department of Health will reissue benefits on its own system. Request the VOC early; clinics can print it at your last appointment before the move.
Official Mississippi WIC agency: Mississippi 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 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 Mississippi State Department of Health 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 ↗
Minnesota vs Mississippi: the numbers that decide it
| Minnesota (old state) | Mississippi (new state) | |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | Minnesota WIC | Mississippi WIC |
| Agency | Minnesota Department of Health | Mississippi State Department of Health |
| 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 (Minnesota) and 2026-08-08 (Mississippi) 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 Minnesota → Mississippi 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 Mississippi enrolls you without a new income screening until your certification period ends.
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 Mississippi State Department of Health directly. If that fails, you can apply fresh in Mississippi; WIC's income limit is the same 185% of the federal poverty level in every state.
Will my Minnesota WIC benefits card work in Mississippi?
No — WIC benefits are issued on each state's own system, so the Minnesota card stops working. Your certification transfers via the VOC; Mississippi State Department of Health reissues the food benefits on Mississippi's system.
Where do I actually apply in Mississippi?
Through Mississippi State Department of Health (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.
- Minnesota Department of Health — WIC — accessed 2026-08-08
- USDA FNA — Minnesota WIC state agency contact — accessed 2026-08-08
- MSDH — WIC Program — accessed 2026-08-08
- USDA FNA — Mississippi WIC state agency contact — accessed 2026-08-08