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New York WIC: 2026–27 Income Limits and Moving In or Out

Moving TO New York

Moving to New York with WIC? Bring a Verification of Certification (VOC) from your old clinic and New York State Department of Health must honor it — you keep your certification without a new income screening until the period ends, and if the clinic has a waiting list, you go to the top of it.

Leaving New York

Before leaving New York, ask your WIC clinic for a Verification of Certification (VOC). Every other state is federally required to accept it, so your certification continues after the move.

Official agency: New York State Department of Health ↗ (application page)

New York WIC at a glance

Program nameNew York WIC
Income limit185% of the federal poverty level (the federal maximum); met automatically if you get SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF
Accepts VOC transfer cardYes (federally required)
ProcessingCertification is typically completed at the first clinic visit; federal rules require an eligibility decision within 20 days of request.

New York WIC income limits by household size (2026–27)

New York uses the federal maximum WIC income limit, 185% of the federal poverty level. These figures apply July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027.

Household sizeYearlyMonthlyWeekly
1 person$29,526$2,461$568
2 people$40,034$3,337$770
3 people$50,542$4,212$972
4 people$61,050$5,088$1,175
5 people$71,558$5,964$1,377
6 people$82,066$6,839$1,579
7 people$92,574$7,715$1,781
8 people$103,082$8,591$1,983
Each additional person+$10,508+$876+$203

Federal source: USDA WIC Income Eligibility Guidelines 2026–27 (91 FR 23050) (published 2026-04-29)

How to apply for WIC in New York

Apply with New York State Department of Health online at health.ny.gov. Go to the official application page ↗

Processing time: Certification is typically completed at the first clinic visit; federal rules require an eligibility decision within 20 days of request.

Moving with more than one benefit? The relocation checklist orders every step for your move.

Common questions

What is the WIC income limit in New York?

185% of the federal poverty level: $40,034 a year for a household of two and $61,050 for a household of four, for July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027. You also meet the income test automatically if you get SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF, if your family gets TANF, or if a pregnant woman or infant in your family gets Medicaid.

Does my New York WIC card work in another state?

Generally no — a WIC card works only at stores authorized by the state that issued it. Before you leave New York, get a Verification of Certification (VOC) from your clinic; the new state's WIC clinic must accept it and enroll you there.

How do I apply for WIC in New York?

Apply with New York State Department of Health online at health.ny.gov. Processing time: certification is typically completed at the first clinic visit; federal rules require an eligibility decision within 20 days of request.

Who runs WIC in New York?

New York State Department of Health. The official page and application link are cited below — always act through them.

Does New York make new residents wait for WIC?

No state may impose a residency waiting period for WIC. You apply as soon as you live in New York; eligibility is decided on New York's own rules.

Where do I report that I'm leaving New York?

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.

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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

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