A: No, it is not a violation if you choose to purchase less or none of the WIC foods prescribed to you.

Q: Can I replace foods I don’t use with another food?

A: A few substitutions are allowed for some foods. Contact your WIC local agency to discuss your options and to have your food benefits changed. No substitutions may be made at the store.

Q: May I feed my WIC foods or my child’s WIC foods to other members in my household?

A: The WIC foods are meant only for the person who was issued the benefits. If those in your home receiving WIC benefits do not eat a certain WIC-provided food, either do not get it at the store or ask your WIC local agency staff to remove it from your benefits.

Q: What should I do if I reduce or stop breastfeeding?

A: Contact your WIC local agency. You will meet with a nutritionist and discuss the options available to you.

Q: Will my benefits roll over to the next month if they are not used?

A: No. Any WIC food benefits not purchased that month will not carry over to the next month.

• Use the “WIC Stores” button in the WICShopper app.

1. Review the shopping list provided from your WIC local agency or ask the store for a printout of your benefit balance.
2. The shopping list will identity all household food benefits available on the eWIC card.
3. Shop only at approved WIC retailers that are identified with the decal.
4. Tell the cashier you are using an eWIC card before items are scanned.
5. Inform the cashier if you have any coupons you would like to use.
6. The cashier will ask you to insert your eWIC card, enter your four-digit PIN, and press the enter button on the keypad.

*Your eWIC card will be locked after seven (7) invalid PIN attempts. Visit your WIC local agency to unlock your card.

7. The WIC-approved food items will be deducted from the eWIC card.
8. Check the receipt to ensure the items are correctly deducted and press the key to confirm your purchase.
9. If you purchase non-WIC items, the cashier will ask you how you would like to pay for those items.
10. When the WIC transaction is complete, you will be prompted to remove your card and a tone or beep will sound.
11. The cashier will give you a receipt with your remaining balance for the current month.
12. Make sure you have your eWIC card and receipt when you leave the store.
13. Unused benefits will not carry over to the next month.

A: Messages are:

• Allowed – This item is allowed! One thing to know is you might see an item is allowed, but it’s not part of your WIC food benefits, so you can’t buy it with WIC. For example, a one year old child gets whole milk. If you don’t have a one-year-old child in your family, whole milk won’t be part of your WIC food benefits, and you won’t be able to buy whole milk at the register. Until WIC benefits link to the WICShopper app, this “allowed” message may not apply to your family’s benefits.
• Not a WIC item – This means Massachusetts WIC hasn’t approved this item. If you think you should be able to buy this food with WIC food benefits, let us know by using the “I couldn’t buy this!” button in this app.
• Unable to identify – This means the app can’t determine if the item is WIC-eligible. This could be due to not having connectivity in the store. Try connecting to WiFi or finding a spot in the store where you get better service.

Q: I tried scanning fresh fruits and vegetables. Either they don’t scan or they come up as not allowed. Why?

A: The app can’t scan certain barcodes on fresh fruits and vegetables or sometimes the stores use their own packaging.

A:  “I couldn’t buy this!” lets you tell WIC when a food item you’re trying to buy is denied at the register. When you use, “I couldn’t buy this!” in the WICShopper app, the WIC state agency will get a notice.  The WIC state agency will review all items submitted and work with stores to make allowed foods available to you!

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (for example, Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

• mail
  U.S. Department of Agriculture
  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
  1400 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
• fax
  (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
• email
  [email protected]

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.