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Transferring WIC from Missouri to Washington

The move does not cost you WIC. Your Missouri clinic issues a Verification of Certification on request, and that document enrolls you with Washington State Department of Health in Washington for the rest of your certification period. Without it you can still apply fresh, but the VOC skips the income re-check.

Official Washington WIC agency: Washington State Department of Health ↗ (application page)

Your step-by-step checklist

Before you move

  1. 1

    Ask your current WIC clinic for a VOC card

    Before you leave Missouri, 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). Missouri runs a dedicated toll-free VOC line: 1-800-554-2544.

    Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services ↗

Moving week

  1. 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

  1. 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 ↗

Missouri vs Washington: the numbers that decide it

 Missouri (old state)Washington (new state)
Program nameMissouri WICWashington WIC
AgencyMissouri Department of Health and Senior ServicesWashington State Department of Health
Income limit185% of the federal poverty level (the federal maximum); met automatically if you get SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF185% of the federal poverty level (the federal maximum); met automatically if you get SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF
Accepts VOC transfer cardYes (federally required)Yes (federally required)
Verified 2026-08-08 (Missouri) and 2026-08-08 (Washington) 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 Missouri → Washington checklist

Common 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 Missouri?

Call your old Missouri 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 Missouri WIC benefits card work in Washington?

No — WIC benefits are issued on each state's own system, so the Missouri 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

Other benefits on the same move

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 .

Written by Benefits Transfer Editorial Team

Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor

Last verified