Transferring WIC from North Carolina to Louisiana
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 Louisiana, Louisiana Department of Health transfers you in at an appointment — no new income screening until your current period ends.
Official Louisiana WIC agency: Louisiana 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 North Carolina, ask your local WIC agency (county health department, community health center, or community action agency) for a Verification of Certification (VOC) card. Federal rules (7 CFR 246.7) require your new state to accept it, so your certification moves with you for the rest of its period. NC WIC line: 1-844-601-6881 (call or text your zip code).
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (Community Nutrition Services Section) ↗
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 Louisiana 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 ↗
North Carolina vs Louisiana: the numbers that decide it
| North Carolina (old state) | Louisiana (new state) | |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | North Carolina WIC | Louisiana WIC |
| Agency | North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (Community Nutrition Services Section) | Louisiana 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 (North Carolina) and 2026-08-08 (Louisiana) 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 North Carolina → Louisiana 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 Louisiana enrolls you without a new income screening until your certification period ends.
What if I forgot to get a VOC before leaving North Carolina?
Call your old North Carolina clinic — many can send the VOC or verify your certification for Louisiana Department of Health directly. If that fails, you can apply fresh in Louisiana; WIC's income limit is the same 185% of the federal poverty level in every state.
Will my North Carolina WIC benefits card work in Louisiana?
No — WIC benefits are issued on each state's own system, so the North Carolina card stops working. Your certification transfers via the VOC; Louisiana Department of Health reissues the food benefits on Louisiana's system.
Where do I actually apply in Louisiana?
Through Louisiana 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.
- NCDHHS NC WIC — accessed 2026-08-08
- NCDHHS — Apply for WIC — accessed 2026-08-08
- Louisiana WIC (Louisiana Department of Health) — accessed 2026-08-08
- USDA FNA — Louisiana WIC state agency contact — accessed 2026-08-08