Utah WIC for Kinship Caregivers — Grandparents and Relatives Raising Young Children

WIC Benefits When You're Raising a Young Child

If you're a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or other relative raising a child under five in Utah, the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program can help cover formula, milk, eggs, cereal, fruits, vegetables, and other staple foods. WIC is one of the easier programs to access as a kinship caregiver — it doesn't require court guardianship, and if you're already on Medicaid, SNAP, or the Specified Relative Grant, you're automatically income-eligible.

Who Qualifies

WIC serves infants and children from birth until their fifth birthday. The child qualifies — not the caregiver — so you're applying on behalf of the child in your care.

Income limits (185% FPL, July 2026 – June 2027):

These limits are higher than SNAP's, so even if your household income disqualifies you from food stamps, you may still qualify for WIC.

Adjunctive (automatic) eligibility: If the child or caregiver currently receives Medicaid, SNAP, or FEP cash assistance (including the Specified Relative Grant), the household is automatically income-eligible for WIC. No additional income verification needed.

What You Get

WIC provides a monthly food package loaded onto an eWIC electronic benefit card. The package varies by age:

• Infants (0–12 months): Formula (if not breastfeeding), infant cereal, and infant fruits/vegetables.
• Children (1–4 years): Milk, eggs, cheese, cereal, whole grain bread or tortillas, juice, peanut butter or beans, and a cash-value benefit for fruits and vegetables ($27/month for children in federal fiscal year 2027).

WIC foods are specific brands and sizes — you'll receive a list of approved items. The eWIC card works at most Utah grocery stores, Walmart, and WinCo.

Beyond food, WIC provides nutrition counseling and referrals to other health and social services, which can be valuable when you're navigating multiple agencies simultaneously.

How to Apply as a Kinship Caregiver

WIC applications are not processed through DWS or the myCase portal. You must schedule an intake appointment at your local county health department WIC clinic.

What to bring:

• Proof of identity for the child (birth certificate, hospital records, or immunization record)
• Proof of Utah residency (utility bill, lease, or a piece of mail with your address)
• Income documentation — or proof of Medicaid/SNAP/FEP enrollment for automatic eligibility
• The child — WIC requires the child to be present at the certification appointment for a brief health screening (height, weight, hemoglobin check)

No guardianship required. WIC does not require a court order. You need to show proof of the child's identity, your residence, and that the child lives with you. A caregiver affidavit or school enrollment letter is sufficient to demonstrate the child is in your care.

Recertification

WIC benefits are certified for specific periods — typically six months for infants and one year for children ages one through four. You'll need to return for recertification before the period expires. The WIC clinic will schedule your recertification appointment and notify you in advance.

If you miss a recertification, benefits stop. You can reapply, but there may be a gap. Set a reminder or note the date in your calendar.

WIC and Other Benefits

WIC doesn't reduce your other benefits:

• Receiving WIC does not affect your SNAP allotment, Specified Relative Grant, or Medicaid eligibility.
• WIC foods supplement — not replace — what you buy with SNAP. The programs are designed to stack.
• WIC participation can actually help with other applications: having a WIC card proves the child is in your household, which some agencies accept as supporting documentation.

Finding Your Local WIC Clinic

Utah WIC clinics are run by local health departments. Locations include:

• Salt Lake County Health Department
• Utah County Health Department
• Davis County Health Department
• Weber-Morgan Health Department

For rural areas, check with your county health department or call Utah 211 for the nearest WIC clinic. Some rural clinics operate on limited schedules, so calling ahead for an appointment is essential.

For a full picture of every financial benefit available to kinship caregivers in Utah — cash, health, food, child care, housing, and more — the Utah Kinship Financial Help guide brings everything together in one reference.

See more Utah guides →