The Alabama Department of Public Health announced Tuesday that new federal poverty benchmarks mean more Alabamians may qualify for the Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants and Children.
The federal supplemental nutrition program, commonly known as WIC, is open to women who are pregnant, have had a child in the past six months, are breastfeeding or are the parent or guardian of a child up to 5 years old.
WIC is open to participants with incomes up to 185 percent of the federal poverty level.
From 2025 to 2026, the poverty level increased from $15,650 annually for an individual, with an additional $5,500 for each additional household member, to $15,960 annually for an individual, with an additional $5,680 for each additional household member.
“WIC is here to help women, infants, and children in Alabama improve their overall health by providing nutritious foods, nutrition education, and breastfeeding support,” Alabama WIC Coordinator Pam Galloway said in a written statement Tuesday.
Families eligible for WIC in 2026 range from families of two making $40,034 or less annually to families of eight making $103,082 or less, up from last year’s levels of $39,128 for a family of two and $100,178 for a family of eight.
WIC participants receive food benefits for each qualifying family member. An electronic food benefit allowance for purchasing fresh produce and frozen fruits and vegetables is available to participants, with each child receiving $26 per month, postpartum women receiving $48 per month and breastfeeding women receiving $52 per month.
Monthly benefits also include access to food packages containing whole-grain breads and cereals, milk, cheese, yogurt, eggs, peanut butter, beans, canned fish and infant foods.
WIC participants may also receive free nutrition education, breastfeeding support and health care education.
Each unborn child counts as one family member.
In a Tuesday statement, LaTrell Wood, hunger policy advocate with Alabama Arise, told APR her organization is “glad that more Alabamians are now eligible for vital food assistance” through WIC.
Wood, however, noted that WIC enrollment has decreased since November and called for federal and state reforms to strengthen supplemental nutrition and free school lunch access.
“Our society often undervalues the essential work of raising and caring for children, and we consistently don’t invest enough in childcare and other supports for families,” Wood said. “Sexism, especially against Black women, is often at the heart of this underinvestment. And these failures to support struggling families are harming all of us.”
Wood highlighted that, according to the USDA, nearly half of infant formula purchased in the U.S. is acquired through WIC benefits.
“Food is a human right, and our state and federal leaders should do more to ensure everyone can afford to keep food on the table,” Wood said. “Congress should start by reversing the harmful SNAP cuts enacted last year. And our state lawmakers should do their part by investing more in no-cost school meals for children across Alabama.”
WIC applications may be submitted through county health departments.
ADPH urged individuals looking for more information on the program to visit the WIC website or call the statewide toll-free line at 1-888-942-4673.
