Are you looking for a way to make your weekly shopping budget stretch as far as possible?
Walmart is known for offering low prices on thousands of different products. This huge retail chain also offers regular deals and discounts on all types of items. If you are on a low income, you can apply for certain benefits from the government. However, finding a retail chain that accepts these as payment for items can be tricky.
So, if you are wondering, ‘does Walmart take WIC?’, then it’s time to find out…
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What Is The WIC Benefits Program?
The full name of this benefit is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. This federal assistance program is run by the Food and Nutrition Service of the United States Department of Agriculture.
It is designed to boost the nutrition and health of low-income breastfeeding women, pregnant women, and children under five years old.
Benefits
In order to be eligible for the program, applicants must have a family income below 185% of the federal poverty level. At the current time, more than half of infants born in the United States are part of this program. Members of the program are provided with special vouchers that can be used in participating stores.
Using WIC Benefits in Stores
Most Walmart stores accept WIC. However, it should be noted that it cannot be used for purchasing products through the company’s website. If you are planning to use your WIC benefit in a store, it is best to call ahead to check availability.
Does Walmart Take WIC? – The Eligible Items
WIC covers a wide range of food products that support the health and nutrition of women and children. This includes fresh fruit and vegetables, cheese, eggs, milk, whole-grain foods, canned fish, and peanut butter. This helps to give people access to the foods that help build and support healthy bodies.
Other eligible items include:
- Infant cereal.
- Iron-fortified adult cereal.
- Vitamin C-rich fruit or vegetable juice.
- Dried beans and peas.
- Soy-based drinks.
- Tofu.
- Baby foods.
- Whole-wheat bread.
Tags are also placed on shelves to mark the items accepted in the WIC program. This allows shoppers to see at a glance the products that they can enjoy as part of the program. There is no need to seek assistance from a shop assistant or wonder which items can be purchased.
How To Use The WIC Card
Members of this program are issued with a card that can be used in the same way as a debit card. However, only certain approved items can be obtained with this card. Therefore, it is important to separate those from your other purchases when you reach the cash register.
The cashier should run those items through first, and you need to pay for them with your card. To do this, you will need to enter your four-digit pin when the cashier swipes your card. Carefully review your transaction to make sure only approved items have been purchased with the card.
Pay for your WIC items separately!
If you find that extra items have been added, you need to ask the cashier to remove them. You are now free to complete the transaction using your WIC card. You will need to purchase the other items separately using the payment method of your choice.
Self-Checkout Counters
One of the great things about this card is that you can use it at the self-checkout counters in participating stores. The self-checkout process is much quicker and easier than the regular checkout. The queues are either very short or non-existent, and it saves you from potentially embarrassing conversations.
There is no need to separate your non-WIC items before you get started, and you can be on your way quickly. Start by scanning all the items you want to purchase and select the option to use other payments. You can tap on the WIC card option or simply swipe your card.
Only WIC-approved items allowed on your card!
Carefully review the printed receipt to make sure you have only used your card for WIC-approved items. If any extra items appear on the receipt, you will have to void those items. It may be necessary to seek the assistance of the monitoring attendant to do this.
Online Purchases
Unfortunately, WIC cards are not currently accepted on the company’s website. This is because the card has yet to be set up as an accepted payment method. However, it is likely that this situation will change in the near future.
What Other Stores Accept EBT?
Supporting a large family is difficult, and food doesn’t come cheap these days! So, let’s start with, Does Target Take WIC, as well as Does Walgreens Accept EBT, WIC, And Food Stamps if you have a baby on the way!
Or perhaps you’d like to know about the EBT payment options at your local grocery stores. So, find out Does Target Take EBT, Does Sams Club Take EBT, or Does Costco Take EBT? And if you love your organic and healthy produce, Does Whole Foods Take EBT in 2023?
Are you looking to do some DIY around the house? Then, take a look at Does Trader Joes Takes EBT Card, or perhaps your need that ‘cuppa joe,’ in which case, knowing Does Starbucks or Take EBT will come in handy. Plus, Does McDonalds Take EBT if you’re treating yourself to a happy meal this weekend!
Does Walmart Take WIC? – Final Thoughts
Walmart is known for providing great prices and deals on a wide range of products. This makes the stores a good place for shoppers to use their WIC benefits. You are sure to find that you are able to get more for the same value when you shop in one of these stores.
The company has also made an effort to make using WIC as easy as possible. There are special labels on shelves that indicate the products that can be enjoyed under the benefits program. The self-checkout area also saves shoppers embarrassment and makes the process especially quick and easy.
Happy shopping at Walmart with your WIC Card!