Maine WIC

Rights and Responsibilities

 

YOUR RIGHTS:

  • Your personal information will be kept confidential unless
    you give written permission to release it, or unless required
    by law to be shared. Examples of such sharing include:
  • Providing my information to the United States Department
    of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees WIC;
  • Sharing with certain Maine Department of Health and
    Human (DHHS) offices that serve WIC participants to determine
    my eligibility for those programs and make the application process easier;
  • Sharing with DHHS programs for the purpose of improving my health, education or well-being if I am already enrolled in their programs;
  • Contacting the DHHS Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) if there is a health or safety concern regarding my child or children.
  • Standards for eligibility for WIC are the same for everyone, regardless of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex.
  • If you feel you have been discriminated against, you may file a complaint.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Bring all documentation requested to each appointment.
  • Report address and/or phone changes to your local WIC office.
  • Keep your eWIC card safe; lost/stolen cards may not be replaceable.

IF I VIOLATE THE PROGRAM RULES ABOVE, I OR MY FAMILY:

  • May be taken off the program for up to one year
  • Will have to pay money back to the program for foods or formula I should not have received
  • May face legal charges

I have been advised of my rights and responsibilities as a WIC Program participant. I certify that the information I have provided for my eligibility determination is correct, to the best of my knowledge. This certification information is being submitted in connection with the receipt of federal supplemental nutrition assistance. Program officials may verify information I have provided.

I UNDERSTAND I MAY BE DROPPED FROM THE WIC PROGRAM IF:

  • I or my child(ren) participate in more than one WIC Program at a time (dual participation)
  • I provide false information about income, family size and residence location (fraud)
  • I or my Alternate Representative / proxy spends eWIC cards at a vendor (store, farm stand or farmers’ market) that is not authorized to accept them (fraud)
  • I or my Alternate Representative / proxy buys non-WIC foods with eWIC card (trafficking)
  • I or someone on my behalf sells, trades, or gives away my eWIC card (trafficking)
  • I or someone on my behalf returns WIC foods for cash, credit or non-WIC foods (trafficking)
  • I or someone on my behalf sells or trades WIC foods, including infant formula, which was purchased with eWIC card for cash, credit, or other foods or services (trafficking)
  • I or someone on my behalf gives away WIC foods, including infant formula, which was purchased with eWIC card (fraud)
  • I or someone on my behalf makes changes to my eWIC card(s) (forgery)
  • I or someone on my behalf posts WIC items for sale, exchange or free on any media, including social media (such as Facebook), Craigslist, eBay, television, radio, newspaper or other online forum (trafficking)
  • I or someone on my behalf verbally or physically abuses WIC or grocery store staff (abuse)
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