Walmart has a long-standing reputation for low prices that are nearly unbeatable. It is what enabled the massive store chain to become so popular across the country.
Another reason is that the store chain makes accessibility a priority. But does Walmart accept WIC?
Does Walmart Take WIC?
Walmart does accept Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits at most locations. WIC benefits can be used to purchase cheese, vegetables, canned fish, eggs, milk, fruit, peanut butter, and certain whole-grain foods. Additionally, some Walmarts can refuse to accept WIC, and it is not available online.
So, then how does it work? Is there a special procedure to use at the store? Can you use it at self-checkout? Keep on reading to find out!
What Items Are Eligible For WIC At Walmart?
When shopping at Walmart, shoppers will be eligible to buy certain foods that they could anywhere else under the WIC benefits program.
Below is an updated list of products and food categories approved under the WIC benefits by the USDA’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program.
- Infant cereal
- Iron-fortified adult cereal
- Vitamin C-rich fruit or vegetable juice
- Eggs
- Milk
- Cheese
- Peanut butter
- Canned fish
- Dried peas/beans
- Soy-based beverages
- Tofu
- Fruits and vegetables
- Baby foods
- Whole-wheat bread
Additionally, when in-store, many Walmarts make WIC-eligible products to find by placing tags on their shelves that mark which food items are accepted in the WIC program.
But that is the only hitch. Once you know the things, you can buy through WIC, buying them at Walmart is easy, especially now with the WIC Card.
How to Use The WIC Card at Walmart?
Using a WIC Card at Walmart is pretty much the same as using a debit, but there are some things you want to keep in mind.
When unloading your cart at the register:
- Separate your WIC items from your other purchases
- Have the cashier run your WIC items through first
- Pay for your WIC items with the WIC Card using your four-digit pin
- Review your transaction to be sure that you have used your WIC Card to get only WIC-approved items.
If you find that you have accidentally purchased something with the WIC card that is not approved by the WIC program, ask the cashier to remove that item from the WIC purchases and place it with your other purchases.
Can You Use WIC at Self-Checkout At Walmart?
Another one of the great benefits of the Walmart and WIC partnership is that now, given the advent of the WIC card, you can use your WIC benefits at the self-checkout at participating Walmarts.
The SCO (self-checkout) process is easier than the normal checkout process, even though you do not have a cashier scanning your items for you.
Here is the great part: you don’t have to separate WIC items from non-WIC items. The self-checkout stand does it for you. Here is what you need to do:
- Scan all your items
- Select the option to use other payments, then the WIC Card option, or just swipe your WIC card
- Review the printed receipts to be sure that the items you used your card for are WIC-approved items.
If you find that you bought something that is not a WIC-approved item, then you will have to void it. For that, you will probably need the help of the attendant who monitors the SCO area.
To learn more about how you can save at Walmart, see our other posts on couponing at Walmart, Walmart veteran discounts, and Walmart hidden clearance hacks.
Conclusion
Walmart stores are known for their great prices and massive selection of items, so it is a huge benefit to many people that Walmart accepts WIC benefits. They even make the process of using your benefits as easy as possible.
With labels on the shelves and the ability to use the self-checkout area, Walmart has made the process of using WIC benefits as user-friendly as possible. Now that WIC offers a debit-style card and SCO separates the WIC items for you, there really is no excuse for not using your benefits.
