Transferring WIC from Tennessee to Nebraska
Mostly yes. The certification transfers via a VOC card from your Tennessee clinic; the benefits themselves are reissued by Nebraska's system. Two steps: request the VOC before moving, then bring it (plus proof of your new address) to Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Income is not re-checked just because you moved.
Official Nebraska WIC agency: Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services ↗
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 Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services 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.
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services ↗
Tennessee vs Nebraska: the numbers that decide it
| Tennessee (old state) | Nebraska (new state) | |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | Tennessee WIC | Nebraska WIC |
| Agency | Tennessee Department of Health | Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services |
| 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 → Nebraska 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 Nebraska enrolls you without a new income screening until your certification period ends. If the Nebraska 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 Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services directly. If that fails, you can apply fresh in Nebraska. The federal income test is 185% of the poverty guidelines in every state, and you meet it automatically once Nebraska approves you for SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF.
Will my Tennessee WIC benefits card work in Nebraska?
No — WIC benefits are issued on each state's own system, so the Tennessee card stops working. Your certification transfers via the VOC; Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services reissues the food benefits on Nebraska's system.
Where do I actually apply in Nebraska?
Through Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Official WIC pages for both states are cited at the bottom of this page.
Related guides
- Moving back: Nebraska to Tennessee WIC
- WIC in Tennessee: leaving or arriving
- WIC in Nebraska: leaving or arriving
- Moving with WIC: every state
- Tennessee to New Mexico WIC
- Tennessee to Ohio WIC
- Tennessee to Rhode Island WIC
- Tennessee to Texas WIC
Other benefits on the same move
- Medicaid: Tennessee to Nebraska
- SNAP: Tennessee to Nebraska
- Unemployment: Tennessee to Nebraska
- TANF: Tennessee to Nebraska
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
- Nebraska DHHS WIC — accessed 2026-08-08