Georgia WIC for Grandparents Raising a Grandchild

Feeding a young grandchild is expensive, and formula alone can cost hundreds a month. If you're a grandparent or relative raising a child under five in Georgia, the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program provides supplemental food, infant formula, and nutrition education at no cost — and you don't need custody papers to apply.

What WIC Provides

WIC is a federally funded nutrition program administered in Georgia by the Department of Public Health (DPH). For children under five, it covers:

• Infant formula and baby food for children under 12 months
• Milk, cheese, eggs, cereal, juice, beans, and peanut butter for children ages 1-4
• Fruits and vegetables through a monthly cash-value benefit
• Nutrition education and breastfeeding support at local WIC clinics

Benefits are loaded onto a Georgia WIC EBT card and used at approved grocery stores. The food packages are standardized, but the specific items update periodically based on federal nutrition guidelines.

Eligibility for Kinship Caregivers

WIC eligibility is based on the child's situation, not yours. Three things matter:

Income: Children enrolled in Medicaid or SNAP are adjunctively eligible for WIC. If the child is not enrolled in either program, ask the county clinic about current income eligibility rules and required verification.

Age: The child must be under five years old. Infants through age one receive the most generous food package.

Residency: The child must live in Georgia. You'll need to show proof of the child's identity and Georgia residency.

WIC does not have a household asset test.

How to Apply as a Grandparent

You apply at a local county health department WIC clinic. As a grandparent or relative standing in loco parentis, you can apply directly — you don't need a custody order, guardianship, or Power of Attorney. Ask the clinic what to bring for your appointment; these records may help:

• Proof of identity for the child — birth certificate, Medicaid card, or immunization record
• Proof of Georgia residency — a utility bill, lease, or official mail showing your address
• Income verification — if the child is not enrolled in Medicaid or SNAP, ask the clinic what income records it needs
• Proof the child is in your care — school enrollment documents, a medical record, or a letter from the child's pediatrician can establish that you're the caregiver

At the appointment, a WIC nutritionist will check the child's height, weight, and hemoglobin (a quick finger prick). This screening identifies any nutritional risks and determines the food package.

WIC and Other Benefits

WIC provides supplemental food and nutrition support alongside other programs. Children in informal kinship care may access TANF, SNAP, Medicaid, and WIC; children enrolled in Medicaid or SNAP are adjunctively eligible for WIC.

If you need food help beyond WIC, Georgia also offers free school breakfast and lunch for children receiving TANF or SNAP (direct certification, no separate application needed), and Summer EBT (SUN Bucks) for school-aged children during summer months.

Where to Start

Find your local county health department WIC clinic and ask about appointment requirements before you go.

For a complete picture of every food, cash, and healthcare benefit available to your grandchild in Georgia, our kinship financial help guide maps each program, its application process, and how they work together — so you're not leaving anything on the table.

See more Georgia guides →