Mercer County WIC Program

If you are:

• Pregnant (up to six weeks after delivery)
• Postpartum (up to six months after delivery)
• Breastfeeding (up to one year if you continue breast feeding)
• An infant
• A child under five years old

And:

• Have a nutrition or medically related health risk
• Live in New Jersey (proof of residency required)
• Meet income guidelines (proof of income required) WIC income eligibility requirements are located here: WIC Program Info

Please call the WIC office at (609) 498-7755 for an appointment. Follow the instructions below for what to bring to your appointment.

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What Do I Need to Bring to My Appointment? For your first appointment and all recertification appointments, please bring all of the following:

• every woman, infant, or child applying for the program
• your Medicaid or Families First cards, if you have either
• proof of household income no more than 30 days old (includes paystubs, unemployment; Social Security; disability, child support, alimony, etc.)
• proof of address in your name, no more than 30 days old (a letter mailed to you, a utility bill, your lease, etc.)
• proof of identity for each person who applying for WIC (WIC ID folder, driver's license, crib card, social security card, or birth certificate)
• your children’s immunization records!

A certification period is the time when you are eligible to get WIC benefits. When your certification period ends, you will need to recertify. For recertification appointments, you will need to bring everything under the “What Do I Need to Bring to My WIC Appointment?” section again.

Pregnant women can apply for the WIC Program at any time during their pregnancy. They must recertify after they have their baby. Breastfeeding women can stay on WIC until their infant's first birthday (they will recertify when the infant turns 6 months old). Non-breastfeeding women or women who stop breastfeeding receive benefits up to 6 months after baby is born. Infants and children are certified for 6 months and must be recertified every 6 months up to 5 years of age.

Your Authorized Foods List names all the types, sizes and brands of WIC foods we allow. Notice that it lists specific juices, cheeses, and cereals. These are the only ones allowed. Each check tells you exactly what size and type of food to buy with that check. You cannot choose different sizes or types. NOTE: Spend each check within its valid dates. Expired checks are not replaced! You can view a list here: NJ Gov WIC Program Information A list of authorized vendors per county can be found here: NJ Gov WIC authorized vendors. Click here for a list of Mercer County Farmer Markets that accept WIC checks.

WIC encourages women to breastfeed their babies for the best infant nutrition and a healthy start! Our Breastfeeding staff is here to help! If you choose to formula feed, WIC provides only iron- fortified formula until your baby is 1 year old. WIC is a supplemental program, and does not provide all of the food you will need for the entire month. Your baby's WIC checks will allow you to buy only the brands approved by the State WIC Office. You cannot exchange WIC approved formula for another brand at the store.

If the Authorized Representative signs a form designating an Alternate Authorized Representative, the other parent or a legal guardian may represent an infant or child at a recertification. An Alternate must be at least 18. This Alternate can serve as a Proxy too. If the Authorized Representative wants only a Proxy, they can choose anyone over the age of 16 just to pick up checks or cash them at the store. Ask the WIC representative about choosing an Alternate Authorized Representative or a Proxy. An Alternate and a Proxy must know what foods are allowed and how to cash the checks.

Lost checks are not replaced, so please keep them in a safe and secure place. Call the WIC office to report a lost or damaged ID or stolen checks. Stolen checks may be replaced if you provide a police report. WIC ID folders can always be replaced if you bring in a proof of ID.

Call WIC immediately at (609) 498-7755. If you move within the area, please let us know your new address. If you leave New Jersey, we can arrange to transfer you to another WIC program.

Eligibility will end if:

• your child reaches 5 years of age
• you stop breastfeeding and your baby is 6 months or older
• your family income exceeds WIC limits
• you do not recertify after your current eligibility period expires
• You may be disqualified (terminated) if you:
• enroll in more than 1 WIC program or clinic at the same time, including those in Pennsylvania, New York, or Delaware
• give false information about your income, family size, residence, etc.
• steal WIC checks
• physically or verbally abuse or threaten a WIC staff or store employee
• use WIC checks to buy foods that are not authorized
• sell WIC checks or WIC food to others
• take cash or credit for WIC checks instead of buying authorized foods;
• spend or try to spend checks you reported as lost or stolen;
• make any changes on your checks, like alter the date or food amount
• exchange WIC formula or food for other brands
• spend checks before or after the dates listed on them
• let someone other than your Proxy or Alternate Authorized Representative use your checks or WIC ID
• spend your checks at a store that is not authorized to cash your checks

These actions can result in either a warning letter or disqualification. If you are disqualified, you will not be allowed to reapply until the disqualification period expires. You may have to pay back benefits you were not supposed to receive.

If you are denied benefits or are disqualified, you may ask for a Fair Hearing within 60 days of notification. You or your representative may call, write, or visit the WIC office to request a Fair Hearing.

Ask any WIC staff member for a list of local programs that may help you (daycares, SNAP, Medicaid, food pantries, utility assistance programs, shelters, etc).

Children’s Home Society of New Jersey’s Mercer County WIC Program 416 Bellevue Avenue Trenton, New Jersey 08618

Hours of Operation:

Monday: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Tuesday: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Wednesday: 10:30 AM - 6:30 PM

Thursday: 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Friday: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM (check pick-ups only)

Mercer WIC Satellite Offices offer appointments on scheduled days and times in the following towns:

East Windsor · Hamilton · Princeton · Trenton

No drop-in appointments are available at satellite offices.

Call (609) 498-7755 for an appointment.