Transferring WIC from Washington to Hawaii
WIC transfers through the VOC card. Ask your current Washington clinic for a Verification of Certification before leaving; Hawaii is federally required to accept it in place of a new eligibility screening. Your Washington-issued food benefits stop working, but the certification itself moves intact.
Official Hawaii WIC agency: Hawaii Department of Health ↗
Your step-by-step checklist
Before you move
- 1
Ask your current WIC clinic for a VOC card
Before you leave Washington, 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. Washington's WIC pages link the USDA WIC clinic locator for finding a clinic in another state. Then contact a WIC clinic in your new state to transfer.
Washington State 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 Hawaii 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.
Hawaii Department of Health ↗
Washington vs Hawaii: the numbers that decide it
| Washington (old state) | Hawaii (new state) | |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | Washington WIC | Hawaii WIC |
| Agency | Washington State Department of Health | Hawaii 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 (Washington) and 2026-08-08 (Hawaii) 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 Washington → Hawaii 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 Hawaii enrolls you without a new income screening until your certification period ends.
What if I forgot to get a VOC before leaving Washington?
Call your old Washington clinic — many can send the VOC or verify your certification for Hawaii Department of Health directly. If that fails, you can apply fresh in Hawaii; WIC's income limit is the same 185% of the federal poverty level in every state.
Will my Washington WIC benefits card work in Hawaii?
No — WIC benefits are issued on each state's own system, so the Washington card stops working. Your certification transfers via the VOC; Hawaii Department of Health reissues the food benefits on Hawaii's system.
Where do I actually apply in Hawaii?
Through Hawaii Department of 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.
- WA Department of Health — WIC Nutrition Program — accessed 2026-08-08
- WA WIC — Apply for WIC — accessed 2026-08-08
- USDA FNS — Hawaii WIC contacts — accessed 2026-08-08
- Hawaii DOH — WIC — accessed 2026-08-08