Are you eligible for WIC? See if you might qualify by using our SNAP (food stamps) & WIC eligibility calculator

July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024 WIC Eligibility in Illinois

There are multiple components to eligibility for WIC, the Woman, Infants, Children program. First, there must be a WIC-eligible member in the household, meaning someone who is pregnant, was pregnant in the last six months, is breastfeeding a baby under one year old, or is a child under 5 years old. The second is the income requirement, meaning your household must meet the WIC income limit based on your household's size.

If your household is already enrolled in SNAP (or Medicaid or TANF), your household does not need to meet the WIC income limit and may be automatically income-eligible. It's possible that a household might not qualify under the WIC income limits, but would qualify under the SNAP (food stamp) program rules, so it's likely a good idea to check your eligibility for both SNAP and WIC. SNAP eligibility is more complex to calculate, so we recommend using our WIC & SNAP Eligibility Calculator to see you're income eligible for WIC and SNAP benefits.

Finally, WIC applicants must be at a "nutrition risk," meaning that the WIC-eligible member in the household has a qualified dietary or medical condition. "Nutrition risk" is determined by a physician, nurse, or nutritionist, and may be determined during a short free health screening during your WIC application appointment. For more information, click here.

This information was collected from USDA and state SNAP/WIC resources but is not official. This website is not affiliated with any government organization or SNAP/WIC program.

WIC Income Limits

Total monthly household income before taxes, including job, self-employment, and other income like social security, disability, child support, worker's comp, unemployment, and pension income.

If someone in the household is pregnant, include the number of expected children in the household size.
  • 1 person
    $2247 / month
  • 2 people
    $3041 / month
  • 3 people
    $3833 / month
  • 4 people
    $4625 / month
  • 5 people
    $5418 / month
  • 6 people
    $6210 / month
  • 7 people
    $7002 / month
  • Each additional person
    +$793 / month
The gross income limit for WIC is 185% of the federal poverty level.

WIC Eligible People

Your household must contain a WIC eligible member to be eligible for WIC.
  • pregnant_woman
    Someone who is pregnant or was pregnant in the last six months
  • person
    Someone who is breastfeeding a baby that is under 12 months old
  • stroller
    An infant or child up to their 5th birthday
Read more on the USDA website.

WIC Benefits

Unlike SNAP, WIC benefits mainly consist of vouchers for pre-selected groups of food based on the nutrition needs of the people receiving WIC. For example, WIC benefits for an infant are different than for a 3 year old.

How to Apply

You'll need to contact your state agency to apply. Click the link below, then choose your state to find your state's WIC website and contact information.
More Info

SNAP Income Limits

While the income eligibility test for WIC are relatively straightforward, SNAP income eligibility can include gross income, net income, and asset tests. However for many households not all of these tests will apply.

The gross income limits (a household's total monthly income before taxes) for SNAP are below. Households with a member who is 60 or older or has a disability also have an alternate pathway to SNAP eligibilty which does not require meeting a gross income limit, but does require a net income and asset test.

For more information about SNAP, refer to our Illinois SNAP Eligibility Calculator or Illinois SNAP Eligibility Guide.
Income Limits
  • 1 person
    $2004 / month
  • 2 people
    $2712 / month
  • 3 people
    $3418 / month
  • 4 people
    $4125 / month
  • 5 people
    $4832 / month
  • 6 people
    $5539 / month
  • 7 people
    $6245 / month
  • Each additional person
    +$707 / month
The gross income limit for SNAP is 165% of the federal poverty level.
Expanded Income Limits If Any Household Members are 60 or Older or Have a Disability
  • If the household has a member who is 60 or older or has a disability but is over the gross income limit below, the household can instead qualify by meeting the Net Income and Asset tests.
  • 1 person
    $2430 / month
  • 2 people
    $3288 / month
  • 3 people
    $4144 / month
  • 4 people
    $5000 / month
  • 5 people
    $5858 / month
  • 6 people
    $6714 / month
  • 7 people
    $7570 / month
  • Each additional person
    +$858 / month
The gross income limit for households with any members who are 60 or older or have a disability that don't meet the asset test is 200% of the federal poverty level.
Are you eligible for WIC? See if you might qualify by using our SNAP (food stamps) & WIC eligibility calculator