Disaster Resources for Louisiana WIC Participants

Using Louisiana WIC Services During a Disaster

A woman and two children sit at a table with a tablet displaying informative recipes, grocery lists, and a bowl of snacks.

Louisiana WIC Participants Evacuating to Other States

Any WIC participant certified on Louisiana WIC that evacuates to another state will be able to transfer their WIC benefits to that state.
This process is called a ‘VOC’, which stands for Verification of Certification.
The new state will honor the certification end dates that Louisiana had for that participant.
The participant just needs to find a clinic near them and call for an appointment. The new WIC clinic staff will call Louisiana WIC staff to get the required information.
Louisiana WIC State Agency staff are able to send VOCs to other states, even if clinics and/or state offices are closed.
The Louisiana WIC EBT card will not work in other states.

Louisiana WIC Participants Redeeming Benefits in Louisiana

The Louisiana WIC EBT card can be used at any Louisiana WIC-approved grocery store as long as they have power, even if it is only from a generator.
Any Louisiana WIC participant who has benefits on their WIC EBT card and has evacuated to another area of Louisiana can go to any WIC grocery store in the area.
Participants can search for WIC grocery stores on the myWIC app.
If a WIC participant has evacuated to another area of Louisiana and needs an appointment they can call a local WIC clinic to get an appointment or the BABY line (1-800-251-BABY) to find the nearest WIC clinic. They can also use the myWIC app or website (louisianawic.org) to find the nearest clinic based on their location.

Other Resources

WIC is not an emergency food program.
Because of federal regulations, WIC cannot give participants extra formula but we can provide referrals and reach out to food banks and pantries if needed.
Breastfeeding assistance is available 24/7 for all WIC moms using the Pacify app.

For more information: Call 1-800-251-BABY (2229)

FAQs

How can I find out if a WIC clinic is open or closed?
1. The status of all Louisiana WIC clinics is available on the Locations page
2. Participants can also call 1-800-251-BABY for Louisiana WIC clinic information.
How can I find out if a WIC grocery store is open or closed?
1. The closure of any WIC grocery store is available on our website.
2. To find a nearby WIC grocery store, participants can use the myWIC or WIC Shopper apps. Participants should call to confirm the WIC grocery store is open before attempting to shop there.
How can a Louisiana WIC participant determine what benefits remain on their Louisiana WIC EBT card?

Louisiana WIC participants can go to the customer service area of any WIC grocery store to get the balance on their WIC EBT card. If available, they can refer to the receipt from their last WIC purchase. Participants can also view their benefits and benefit balance using the myWIC app.
Can a Louisiana WIC participant go to a WIC clinic in another state?

Yes. Disaster-related evacuees who seek WIC benefits from another state are considered special nutritional risk applicants and receive expedited certification processing. Staff from the other state should request VOC transfer paperwork from the Louisiana WIC State Agency by filling out our VOC Request Form.
Can a participant from another state go to a Louisiana WIC clinic?

Yes. Disaster-related evacuees from another state who seek WIC benefits are considered special nutritional risk applicants and receive expedited certification processing. Louisiana WIC staff will request VOC transfer paperwork from the state where the participant was last seen.
Can a Louisiana WIC participant use their Louisiana WIC EBT card in another state?

No. If a Louisiana WIC participant has evacuated to another state, they can transfer to a clinic in the other state to receive WIC benefits they can use in that state.
Can a WIC participant from another state use their WIC EBT card at a Louisiana WIC grocery store?

No. If a WIC participant from another state has evacuated to Louisiana, they can transfer to a Louisiana WIC clinic to receive a Louisiana WIC EBT card to use at Louisiana WIC grocery stores (see #5).