Transferring WIC from Tennessee to South Carolina
The move does not cost you WIC. Your Tennessee clinic issues a Verification of Certification on request, and that document enrolls you with South Carolina Department of Public Health in South Carolina for the rest of your certification period. Without it you can still apply fresh, but the VOC skips the income re-check.
Official South Carolina WIC agency: South Carolina Department of Public Health ↗
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 South Carolina Department of Public 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.
South Carolina Department of Public Health ↗
Tennessee vs South Carolina: the numbers that decide it
| Tennessee (old state) | South Carolina (new state) | |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | Tennessee WIC | South Carolina WIC |
| Agency | Tennessee Department of Health | South Carolina Department of Public 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 (Tennessee) and 2026-08-08 (South Carolina) 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 Tennessee → South Carolina 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 South Carolina enrolls you without a new income screening until your certification period ends.
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 South Carolina Department of Public Health directly. If that fails, you can apply fresh in South Carolina; WIC's income limit is the same 185% of the federal poverty level in every state.
Will my Tennessee WIC benefits card work in South Carolina?
No — WIC benefits are issued on each state's own system, so the Tennessee card stops working. Your certification transfers via the VOC; South Carolina Department of Public Health reissues the food benefits on South Carolina's system.
Where do I actually apply in South Carolina?
Through South Carolina Department of Public Health. 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.
- TN Department of Health — Tennessee WIC Program — accessed 2026-08-08
- USDA FNS — South Carolina WIC state agency contact — accessed 2026-08-08
- SC Department of Public Health — WIC Nutrition Program — accessed 2026-08-08