Transferring WIC from Tennessee to Maryland
Your WIC certification survives the move — the food benefits switch systems. Request a VOC card from your Tennessee clinic before you go; it is your proof of enrollment. In Maryland, book an appointment with Maryland Department of Health, bring the VOC and your new address, and benefits resume.
Official Maryland WIC agency: Maryland 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 Tennessee, request a Verification of Certification (VOC) for each participant — Tennessee WIC directs participants to call 1-800-DIAL-WIC (1-800-342-5942) to request a VOC. 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.
Tennessee 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 Maryland Department of 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 ↗
Tennessee vs Maryland: the numbers that decide it
| Tennessee (old state) | Maryland (new state) | |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | Tennessee WIC | Maryland WIC |
| Agency | Tennessee Department of Health | Maryland Department of 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 Tennessee → Maryland 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 Maryland enrolls you without a new income screening until your certification period ends. If the Maryland 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 Tennessee?
Call your old Tennessee clinic — many can send the VOC or verify your certification for Maryland Department of Health directly. If that fails, you can apply fresh in Maryland. The federal income test is 185% of the poverty guidelines in every state, and you meet it automatically once Maryland approves you for SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF.
Will my Tennessee WIC benefits card work in Maryland?
No — WIC benefits are issued on each state's own system, so the Tennessee card stops working. Your certification transfers via the VOC; Maryland Department of Health reissues the food benefits on Maryland's system.
Where do I actually apply in Maryland?
Through Maryland Department of Health (online application linked above). Official WIC pages for both states are cited at the bottom of this page.
Related guides
- Moving back: Maryland to Tennessee WIC
- WIC in Tennessee: leaving or arriving
- WIC in Maryland: leaving or arriving
- Moving with WIC: every state
- Tennessee to Kansas WIC
- Tennessee to Nevada WIC
- Tennessee to Mississippi WIC
- Tennessee to Oklahoma WIC
Other benefits on the same move
- Medicaid: Tennessee to Maryland
- SNAP: Tennessee to Maryland
- Unemployment: Tennessee to Maryland
- TANF: Tennessee to Maryland
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 .
- TN Department of Health — Tennessee WIC Program — accessed 2026-08-08
- Maryland Department of Health — Maryland WIC Program — accessed 2026-08-08
- USDA FNA — Maryland WIC state agency contact — accessed 2026-08-08