Transferring WIC from Mississippi to Arkansas
The move does not cost you WIC. Your Mississippi clinic issues a Verification of Certification on request, and that document enrolls you with Arkansas Department of Health in Arkansas for the rest of your certification period. Without it you can still apply fresh, but the VOC skips the income re-check.
Official Arkansas WIC agency: Arkansas Department of Health ↗
Your step-by-step checklist
Before you move
- 1
Ask your current WIC clinic for a VOC card
Before you leave Mississippi, 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). MSDH directs VOC questions to (601) 991-6000 or toll-free 1-800-545-6747.
Mississippi State 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 Arkansas 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.
Arkansas Department of Health ↗
Mississippi vs Arkansas: the numbers that decide it
| Mississippi (old state) | Arkansas (new state) | |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | Mississippi WIC | Arkansas WIC |
| Agency | Mississippi State Department of Health | Arkansas 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 (Mississippi) and 2026-08-08 (Arkansas) 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 Mississippi → Arkansas 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 Arkansas enrolls you without a new income screening until your certification period ends.
What if I forgot to get a VOC before leaving Mississippi?
Call your old Mississippi clinic — many can send the VOC or verify your certification for Arkansas Department of Health directly. If that fails, you can apply fresh in Arkansas; WIC's income limit is the same 185% of the federal poverty level in every state.
Will my Mississippi WIC benefits card work in Arkansas?
No — WIC benefits are issued on each state's own system, so the Mississippi card stops working. Your certification transfers via the VOC; Arkansas Department of Health reissues the food benefits on Arkansas's system.
Where do I actually apply in Arkansas?
Through Arkansas Department of Health. 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.
- MSDH — WIC Program — accessed 2026-08-08
- USDA FNA — Mississippi WIC state agency contact — accessed 2026-08-08
- Arkansas Department of Health — WIC — accessed 2026-08-08