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Washington WIC: 2026–27 Income Limits and Moving In or Out

Moving TO Washington

Moving to Washington with WIC? Bring a Verification of Certification (VOC) from your old clinic and Washington State Department of Health must honor it — you keep your certification without a new income screening until the period ends, and if the clinic has a waiting list, you go to the top of it.

Leaving Washington

Before leaving Washington, ask your WIC clinic for a Verification of Certification (VOC). Every other state is federally required to accept it, so your certification continues after the move.

Official agency: Washington State Department of Health ↗ (application page)

Washington WIC at a glance

Program nameWashington WIC
Income limit185% of the federal poverty level (the federal maximum); met automatically if you get SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF
Accepts VOC transfer cardYes (federally required)
ProcessingWIC eligibility is usually determined at the certification appointment itself; federal rules cap the wait for that appointment at 20 days from your request. Washington appointments run 30-45 minutes (remote or in-person) and food benefits are issued the same day.

Washington WIC income limits by household size (2026–27)

Washington uses the federal maximum WIC income limit, 185% of the federal poverty level. These figures apply July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027.

Household sizeYearlyMonthlyWeekly
1 person$29,526$2,461$568
2 people$40,034$3,337$770
3 people$50,542$4,212$972
4 people$61,050$5,088$1,175
5 people$71,558$5,964$1,377
6 people$82,066$6,839$1,579
7 people$92,574$7,715$1,781
8 people$103,082$8,591$1,983
Each additional person+$10,508+$876+$203

Federal source: USDA WIC Income Eligibility Guidelines 2026–27 (91 FR 23050) (published 2026-04-29)

How to apply for WIC in Washington

Apply with Washington State Department of Health online at doh.wa.gov. Go to the official application page ↗

Processing time: WIC eligibility is usually determined at the certification appointment itself; federal rules cap the wait for that appointment at 20 days from your request. Washington appointments run 30-45 minutes (remote or in-person) and food benefits are issued the same day.

Moving with more than one benefit? The relocation checklist orders every step for your move.

Common questions

What is the WIC income limit in Washington?

185% of the federal poverty level: $40,034 a year for a household of two and $61,050 for a household of four, for July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027. You also meet the income test automatically if you get SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF, if your family gets TANF, or if a pregnant woman or infant in your family gets Medicaid.

Does my Washington WIC card work in another state?

Generally no — a WIC card works only at stores authorized by the state that issued it. Before you leave Washington, get a Verification of Certification (VOC) from your clinic; the new state's WIC clinic must accept it and enroll you there.

How do I apply for WIC in Washington?

Apply with Washington State Department of Health online at doh.wa.gov. Processing time: WIC eligibility is usually determined at the certification appointment itself; federal rules cap the wait for that appointment at 20 days from your request. Washington appointments run 30-45 minutes (remote or in-person) and food benefits are issued the same day.

Who runs WIC in Washington?

Washington State Department of Health. The official page and application link are cited below — always act through them.

Does Washington make new residents wait for WIC?

No state may impose a residency waiting period for WIC. You apply as soon as you live in Washington; eligibility is decided on Washington's own rules.

Where do I report that I'm leaving Washington?

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.

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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 .

Written by Benefits Transfer Editorial Team

Reviewed by Billy Reiner, Editor

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