This report reviews the methods used to estimate the national number of people eligible to participate in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) under full funding of the program. It reviews alternative data sets and methods for estimating income eligibility, adjunctive eligibility (which occurs when people are eligible for WIC because they are enrolled in other federal public assistance programs) and nutritional risk, as well as for estimating participation if the program is fully funded.

This report reviews the methods used to estimate the national number of people eligible to participate in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) under full funding of the program. It reviews alternative data sets and methods for estimating income eligibility, adjunctive eligibility (which occurs when people are eligible for WIC because they are enrolled in other federal public assistance programs) and nutritional risk, as well as for estimating participation if the program is fully funded.

The mission of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is to safeguard the health of low-income women, infants, and children through age 4 who are at nutritional risk. WIC provides nutritious foods to supplement diets, nutrition education, and referrals to health care and other social services. Almost half of all infants and about a quarter of all children ages 1-4 in the U.S. participate in the program. WIC accounts for 10% of total Federal spending on food and nutrition assistance. This report describes the WIC program ¿ how it works, its history, program trends, and the characteristics of the population it serves. It also examines current issues facing WIC, focusing mainly on those with important economic implications.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides nutritious foods and assistance to low-income pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and young children. Research has shown that WIC helps to improve birth and dietary outcomes and contain health care costs. The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) oversees the program, which is administered by state and local agencies. While federal regulations define criteria that must be used to determine applicants’ income eligibility for WIC, state and local agencies are also given some discretion. In addition, federal law allows families who participate in other assistance programs, such as Medicaid, to be automatically income-eligible for WIC. This report assessed: (1) How do state and local criteria for determining WIC income eligibility vary? (2) To what extent are individuals who would otherwise be ineligible for WIC deemed eligible due to their participation in other programs? (3) How does USDA assist and monitor state determination of WIC income eligibility? Tables and figure. This is a print on demand report.

Abstract: This GAO report estimates the number of additional participants who might be added to the WIC program by utilizing the savings that might be achieved by states purchasing infant formula at less than retail cost. The question of whether or not states should be allowed to apply savings to cover increases in administrative costs instead of requiring states to apply the money to purchase additional food for clients is also discussed.

" WIC provides nutritious foods and assistance to low-income pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and young children. Research has shown that WIC helps to improve birth and dietary outcomes and contain health care costs. USDA's FNS oversees the program, which is administered by state and local agencies. While federal regulations define criteria that must be used to determine applicants' income eligibility for WIC, state and local agencies are also given some discretion. In addition, since 1989, federal law has allowed families who participate in other assistance programs, such as Medicaid, to be automatically income-eligible for WIC. GAO was asked to provide information on WIC income eligibility determination. GAO assessed: (1) How do state and local criteria for determining WIC income eligibility vary? (2) To what extent are individuals who would otherwise be ineligible for WIC deemed eligible due to their participation in other programs? (3) How does USDA assist and monitor state determination of WIC income eligibility? GAO reviewed federal laws and regulations; analyzed USDA's national data from 2010, recent survey findings, and monitoring reports; reviewed WIC policy manuals from 10 states chosen to provide population size and geographic diversity; and interviewed federal, state, and local officials. "