New moms can get up to $150 worth of free food and vouchers a month for kids under five - how to claim

NEW moms can get up to $150 worth of free food and vouchers for themselves and their kids under the age of five each month.

The WIC Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children is available for low-income families to help them eat healthily.

What is WIC and who is eligible?

The federal program offer support to pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, infants and kids under the age of five.

In the first five months of 2019, it helped more than 6.4million households across the US.

To qualify, you can't earn above a certain level and you must live in the state in which you apply.

The income levels vary between states, but they must be between 100% of the federal poverty guidelines but no more than 185%.

You must also be determined to be at "nutritional risk" by a health professional, including a physician, nutritionist or nurse.

In many cases, this is done in the WIC clinic for free.

In most WIC state agencies, claimants get checks or vouchers to buy set foods each month that are designed to include specific nutrients.

While some states issue an electronic benefit card (EBT) instead of paper checks or vouchers.

A few agencies also deliver the foods directly to the doorstop of claimants.

WIC foods include milk, cheese, cereal, eggs, tofu, peanut butter fruits and vegetables, among others, and are labeled on their price tag in stores.

For infants of women who don't fully breastfeed, WIC also provides iron-fortified infant formula.

The food and vouchers are typically worth between $50 and $150 each month, according to the WIC program in San Diego County.

On December 6, the US Department of Agriculture also extended a temporary boost in the cash value of the vouchers until March 2022 due to Covid.

The monthly amounts, which have been adjusted for inflation, are $24 for child recipients.

While they're set at $43 for pregnant and postpartum women claimants and $47 for fully and partially breastfeeding women claimants.

To apply for WIC, you'll need to contact your state or local WIC agency for an appointment.

When you call, they'll tell you where to apply and what to bring with you.

Just keep in mind that your agency may not have enough money to serve everyone who needs support under WIC.

In that case, it will maintain a waiting list and use a priority system to decide who will get WIC benefits first.

At the beginning of the pandemic, Americans were urged not to buy groceries for three days to allow those on WIC benefits to stock up.