Transferring WIC from North Carolina to New Hampshire
The move does not cost you WIC. Your North Carolina clinic issues a Verification of Certification on request, and that document enrolls you with New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services in New Hampshire for the rest of your certification period. Without it you can still apply fresh, but the VOC skips the income re-check.
Official New Hampshire WIC agency: New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services ↗ (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 New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services 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 New Hampshire: the numbers that decide it
| North Carolina (old state) | New Hampshire (new state) | |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | North Carolina WIC | New Hampshire WIC |
| Agency | North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (Community Nutrition Services Section) | New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services |
| 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 (New Hampshire) 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 → New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services directly. If that fails, you can apply fresh in New Hampshire; 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 New Hampshire?
No — WIC benefits are issued on each state's own system, so the North Carolina card stops working. Your certification transfers via the VOC; New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services reissues the food benefits on New Hampshire's system.
Where do I actually apply in New Hampshire?
Through New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (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
- NH DHHS WIC Nutrition Program — accessed 2026-08-08