Transferring WIC from New York to Massachusetts
Ask for one thing before the move: the VOC card. Federal WIC rules (7 CFR 246.7) require every state to accept it as proof of your certification. Once in Massachusetts, Massachusetts Department of Public Health transfers you in at an appointment — no new income screening until your current period ends.
Official Massachusetts WIC agency: Massachusetts Department of Public Health ↗ (application page)
Your step-by-step checklist
Before you move
- 1
Ask your current WIC clinic for a VOC card
Moving out of New York: call your local WIC agency and ask for a Verification of Certification (VOC) card before you leave — federal rules (7 CFR 246.7) require your new state to accept it. Moving within New York needs no VOC: the statewide NYWIC system lets any local agency retrieve your record.
New York 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 Massachusetts Department of Public 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 ↗
New York vs Massachusetts: the numbers that decide it
| New York (old state) | Massachusetts (new state) | |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | New York WIC | Massachusetts WIC |
| Agency | New York State Department of Health | Massachusetts Department of Public Health |
| 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 New York → Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts enrolls you without a new income screening until your certification period ends. If the Massachusetts 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 New York?
Call your old New York clinic — many can send the VOC or verify your certification for Massachusetts Department of Public Health directly. If that fails, you can apply fresh in Massachusetts. The federal income test is 185% of the poverty guidelines in every state, and you meet it automatically once Massachusetts approves you for SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF.
Will my New York WIC benefits card work in Massachusetts?
No — WIC benefits are issued on each state's own system, so the New York card stops working. Your certification transfers via the VOC; Massachusetts Department of Public Health reissues the food benefits on Massachusetts's system.
Where do I actually apply in Massachusetts?
Through Massachusetts Department of Public Health (online application linked above). Official WIC pages for both states are cited at the bottom of this page.
Related guides
- Moving back: Massachusetts to New York WIC
- WIC in New York: leaving or arriving
- WIC in Massachusetts: leaving or arriving
- Moving with WIC: every state
- New York to Alabama WIC
- New York to Washington WIC
- New York to Texas WIC
- New York to Rhode Island WIC
Other benefits on the same move
- Medicaid: New York to Massachusetts
- SNAP: New York to Massachusetts
- Unemployment: New York to Massachusetts
- TANF: New York to Massachusetts
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 .
- NYSDOH WIC Program — accessed 2026-08-08
- USDA FNA — Massachusetts WIC state agency contact — accessed 2026-08-08
- Mass.gov — WIC Nutrition Program — accessed 2026-08-08