Virginia WIC Benefits for a Grandchild in Kinship Care

What WIC Provides

WIC (the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) provides specific nutritious foods to children under age five, along with nutrition education and health care referrals. For kinship caregivers, WIC fills the gap between SNAP's general food assistance and the specific nutritional needs of infants and young children.

WIC covers infant formula, baby food, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, milk, eggs, cereal, peanut butter, and other nutritious staples. Benefits load onto a Virginia WIC eCard that works at authorized retailers. The specific food package depends on the child's age — infants get formula and baby food, while children ages 1-4 get a broader package of fruits, vegetables, dairy, and grains.

No Custody Order Required

You do not need a court order, guardianship, or any formal legal arrangement to apply for WIC on behalf of a grandchild or relative's child. WIC is administered by the Virginia Department of Health through local health district clinics, separate from the DSS benefit programs.

What you need: proof that the child lives with you, the child's age (birth certificate or medical records), and income documentation for the household. If the child is already receiving SNAP or TANF, the child is categorically income-eligible for WIC — you do not need to provide additional income documentation.

How to Apply

WIC is not available through CommonHelp. Apply through your local Virginia Department of Health WIC clinic. Contact the clinic to confirm its application and appointment options.

At the appointment, a WIC nutritionist will assess the child's dietary needs, verify eligibility, and set up the eCard. The first visit is the longest; renewals are shorter.

To find your local WIC clinic, search the Virginia Department of Health clinic locator or call the state WIC hotline.

Income Eligibility

WIC uses a household income threshold of 185% of the Federal Poverty Level. But for kinship caregivers, the practical question is simpler:

• If the child receives SNAP or TANF: automatically eligible for WIC. No income screening needed.
• If the child receives Medicaid: automatically eligible for WIC in most cases.
• If the child is not on any other program: the WIC clinic will evaluate your household income against the 185% FPL threshold.

Since most kinship-placed children qualify for TANF child-only (where the caregiver's income is excluded) or SNAP, most will meet WIC eligibility through categorical qualification alone.

WIC and School Meals

Children receiving SNAP or TANF, or identified by LDSS as foster or kinship placements, are directly certified for free school meals when they reach school age. And during summer months, school-age children who are certified for free or reduced-price meals may qualify for SUN Bucks (Summer EBT) — $120 per eligible child in seasonal grocery assistance.

WIC benefits end when the child turns five. By that point, SNAP and school meals carry the food assistance forward.

The Virginia kinship financial help guide covers WIC alongside every other benefit available to kinship caregivers — TANF child-only, SNAP, FAMIS, childcare subsidies, and emergency assistance — organized so you can see the complete picture of what the child qualifies for.

See more Virginia guides →