Elevated WIC Advantages Present Households with Extra Fruits and Greens

The Women’s, Infant and Children’s Program (WIC) is now providing an increased dollar amount for fruit and vegetables through September 2021. The Florida Department of Health in Pasco County (DOH-Pasco) encourages families to sign up for WIC benefits as soon as possible, to take advantage of these increased benefits while they are available.

“Many people who think their families would not qualify are surprised to learn that they are actually eligible for WIC,” said Jennifer Parker, director of the Public Health Nutrition Program at DOH-Pasco. “Others think they will take advantage of those who may need it more, but they are not.”

Existing enrolled families will not lose or receive reduced WIC benefits as the number of enrolled families increases. Funding for WIC benefits will increase to meet needs as more eligible families are added. Eligible WIC attendees include women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or who were recently born, as well as children under the age of 5.

On March 12, 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) authorized state WIC agencies to increase the WIC benefit and increase the fruit and vegetable dollars from $ 9 per month for children and $ 11 per month for a period of four months for women increase to USD 35 per month, per participant. The WIC vegetable and fruit voucher is known as a Cash Value Benefit (CVB). The CVB will improve the dietary quality of WIC participants and reducing the prevalence of Childhood obesity among WIC toddlers.

Florida WIC will implement the CVB increase from June 1, 2021 through September 30, 2021. All women and children participating in the WIC program will receive an increase in their fruit and vegetable cash voucher to USD 35 per participant per month.

For example, from June to September 2021, a pregnant woman and her 2-year-old will receive a total of USD 70 in credit on their WIC EBT card for fruits and vegetables per month. Fruits and vegetables can be fresh, frozen, or canned. Any brand, variety, size, with no added sugar, syrup, artificial sweeteners, fat or oil. Organic fruits and vegetables are allowed.

For more information about enrollment and eligibility for the WIC program with the Florida Department of Health in Pasco County (DOH-Pasco), call 1-877-BEBY (1-877-942-2329).

More information about DOH-Pasco can be found at Pasco.FlordaHealth.gov.

Via the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Body, works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.

follow us on Facebook, Instagram and twitter @HealthyPasco. For more information on the Florida Department of Health, visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.

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