Transferring WIC from South Carolina to New Jersey
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 New Jersey, New Jersey Department of Health transfers you in at an appointment — no new income screening until your current period ends.
Official New Jersey WIC agency: New Jersey 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 South Carolina, ask your local WIC clinic for a Verification of Certification (VOC) card for each participant — federal rules (7 CFR 246.7) require your new state to accept it, so your WIC certification moves with you. Then contact a WIC clinic in your new state to transfer.
South Carolina Department of Public 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 New Jersey 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 ↗
South Carolina vs New Jersey: the numbers that decide it
| South Carolina (old state) | New Jersey (new state) | |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | South Carolina WIC | New Jersey WIC |
| Agency | South Carolina Department of Public Health | New Jersey 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 (South Carolina) and 2026-08-08 (New Jersey) 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 South Carolina → New Jersey 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 Jersey enrolls you without a new income screening until your certification period ends.
What if I forgot to get a VOC before leaving South Carolina?
Call your old South Carolina clinic — many can send the VOC or verify your certification for New Jersey Department of Health directly. If that fails, you can apply fresh in New Jersey; WIC's income limit is the same 185% of the federal poverty level in every state.
Will my South Carolina WIC benefits card work in New Jersey?
No — WIC benefits are issued on each state's own system, so the South Carolina card stops working. Your certification transfers via the VOC; New Jersey Department of Health reissues the food benefits on New Jersey's system.
Where do I actually apply in New Jersey?
Through New Jersey 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.
- USDA FNS — South Carolina WIC state agency contact — accessed 2026-08-08
- SC Department of Public Health — WIC Nutrition Program — accessed 2026-08-08
- NJ Department of Health WIC — accessed 2026-08-08
- NJ WIC — how to apply — accessed 2026-08-08