Pennsylvania WIC Income Guidelines

This page provides the WIC Income Guidelines in Pennsylvania. The WIC staff uses this to determine if you are income eligible for PA WIC benefits. In some situations, you may be automatically income eligible if you or a family member is currently receiving benefits from other state programs including SNAP (Food stamps), TANF or Medicaid. Review the Pennsylvania Income Eligibility Guidelines below.

To view the full application process, how to apply for WIC in Pennsylvania. If you still have questions or issues about the income guidelines or the states WIC application process, then contact the Pennsylvania WIC program for further assistance.

These residents must also meet the Pennsylvania WIC income guidelines, which is 185% of the poverty level set by the federal government and is based on household size. They must also have a medical or nutritional risk, which is determined at the WIC certification appointment. There are many qualifying risks. Some examples include: anemia, underweight, overweight, premature baby and pregnancy complications.

Income eligibility standards are effective for certifying all new applicants and for re-certifying current participants at the time of their next certification on or after 7/1/2018. For each unborn infant, add one to household size.

Current income guidelines for Healthy Beginnings and Healthy Beginnings Plus are also listed, and WIC refers potentially eligible individuals to these programs. Please note that only the annual figure will be taken into account when calculating income. The monthly figure is just an approximate value.

Household Size Monthly Annual Welfare
185% HB & HBP
1 $1,871 $22,459 $22,459
2 $2,537 $30,451 $30,451
3 $3,203 $38,443 $38,443
4 $3,869 $46,435 $46,435
5 $4,535 $54,427 $54,427
6 $5,201 $62,419 $62,419
7 $5,867 $70,411 $70,411
8 $6,533 $78,403 $78,403
Each Add: $666 $7,992 $7,992

"Household" means
A person or group of people, related or not, who usually (though not necessarily) live together and whose income and consumption of goods and services are related. In determining the size of household for a pregnant Oregon WIC applicant, count each fetus as an additional household member, unless the woman specifically waives the increase in number.

"Income" means
Gross income, including overtime, before deductions for income taxes, employee's social security taxes, insurance premiums, bonds, etc. The determination of the amount of a household's gross income shall not be considered reduced for financial hardships, medical bills, or child support.

Income includes:

  • Cash from salary (including overtime), wages, fees
  • Net income from farm and non-farm self-employment
  • Social security (including SSI for disabled individuals)
  • Dividends or interest on savings or bonds, estates, trusts, or net rental income
  • Public assistance or welfare payments
  • Unemployment compensation
  • Government civilian employee or military retirement payments, or veteran's payments
  • Private pensions or annuities
  • Alimony or child support payment
  • Regular contributions from persons not living in the household
  • Net royalties
  • Student loan amounts in excess of attendance costs. Attendance costs are regular tuition and fees for students carrying at least a half-time workload as determined by the institution, and an allowance for books, supplies, and transportation required by the course of study
  • Other cash income or allowances from any resources that are readily available to the household
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