FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: January 18 2023

Contact: Jon Ebelt, Public Info Officer, DPHHS, (406) 444-0936, (406) 461-3757
                 jebelt@mt.gov
                Chuck Council, Communications Specialist, DPHHS, (406) 444-4391, (406) 461-8367
                 hcouncil@mt.gov

Division of Public Well being and Human Companies (DPHHS) officers are reminding Montanans the free Girls, Infants, and Kids (WIC) Shopper App is obtainable to assist households with their grocery procuring.

“We wish to make sure that WIC recipients have what they want, and the app is likely one of the fundamental instruments that’s accessible to assist busy households,” mentioned Kevin Moore of the Montana WIC Program.  “The app consists of many thrilling options geared toward enhancing the general procuring expertise and modernizes how we’re delivering providers.”

The WIC Shopper App has varied options to assist members higher entry their advantages and the accessible meals objects. The app permits customers to: 

  • Scan the barcode to seek for WIC meals checklist eligible objects
  • Examine advantages
  • Find WIC workplaces
  • Discover schooling about developmental milestones
  • Seek for recipes and life hacks for nutritious consuming

“The WIC Shopper App has been a giant assist as we attempt to profit from our household price range,” mentioned Sabrina Rubich, Billings resident and WIC Participant. “ It helps observe advantages and consists of nice recipes. I extremely suggest the app to different households receiving WIC advantages.”

On common, over 6,500 households use the app each month.

DPHHS can also be reminding Montanans that advantages elevated in September 2022. The U.S. Division of Agriculture (USDA), which funds WIC, elevated the month-to-month profit to purchase extra fruit and greens.

Households will now obtain $25 per thirty days for youngsters as much as age 5, $44 for these pregnant, postpartum, or partially breastfeeding, and $49 for individuals who are absolutely breastfeeding, for vegatables and fruits. On common, this quantities to a month-to-month profit improve of 37% for Montana households. The final time the profit quantities skilled this massive of improve was in 2009. 

WIC in Montana consists of 29 native businesses and over 80 clinic websites serving all 56 counties and 7 tribal reservations. In Montana, over 9,200 households are enrolled, benefiting over 14,000 girls, infants, and kids. Nevertheless, solely 55% of eligible households are signed up.

WIC eligibility requires members to be pregnant, postpartum, breastfeeding, or fostering/authorized guardians of youngsters youthful than 5. Individuals should additionally meet earnings necessities—making lower than 185% of the Federal Poverty Stage or qualify for Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, or free/lowered faculty meal packages. Particular  WIC eligibility guidelines may be discovered on the DPHHS web site. 

WIC was created in 1974 to assist households and younger kids throughout a important time of progress and improvement. This system’s advantages embrace offering households entry to wholesome meals, breastfeeding schooling, referral to different well being and social providers, and way more. WIC is a voluntary program, and participation doesn’t intrude with different packages like SNAP or Medicaid.  

To be taught extra about WIC or discover out if you’re eligible, go to  www.dphhs.mt.gov/ecfsd/wic/index. Households may also contact their native WIC clinic or go to  www.signupwic.com [signupwic.com]. The state workplace could also be reached at 1-800-433-4298 or emailed at  montanawicprogram@mt.gov

Simplify your shopping with the WICShopper app



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