PBS: Are Americans a Stingy Lot of People?

[xmas74]

55. They have to be approved via appointment every couple of months.

The mother goes in with the child (up to age five) and the WIC office does a height/weight. They then do a quick nutrition consult with the mother about the child's needs. After that they print up the vouchers, which are good for two months. Each voucher is assessed by what the child (or pregnant/nursing mother) needs and has a date of when they can be redeemed, along with an expiration date.


The average voucher has a certain amount of gallons of milk. Some also include a couple of boxes of generic cereal, along with dried beans/peanut butter,fresh or frozen carrots, tuna fish and eggs. It says the exact amount, up to a dollar amount, that can be redeemed. The stores often have stickers in front of the products for what is WIC approved, for ease of shopping.

It works quite well and is probably even more efficient than the food stamp program, though I have no qualms with food stamps.