Your WIC food balance will show the foods and the amounts available to your entire family between specific dates. Pay close attention to the start and end dates of your family’s food benefits. As you shop and use your WIC foods, your food balance will change. Your WIC benefits are good for 30 days and expire at midnight on the end date. Your benefits do not carry over to the next month, so be sure to use them before they expire.

There are many ways to find your WIC food balance

• Use the free California WIC app
• Get a printout from your WIC office
• Look at your store receipt from your last shopping trip
• Ask a cashier or customer service person to print your WIC food balance
• Call the toll free number on the back of your WIC Card (1.844.469.3264)
• Coming Soon: Go online to the California WIC Family Portal

• Buy just the WIC foods you need at each shopping trip. You don’t need to purchase everything all at once.
• Use your WIC Authorized Food List Shopping Guide. Please be sure you have the most up-to-date shopping guide with a date of April 2, 2019 or later indicated on the front cover. You can also use the California WIC app or your WIC food balance to help you choose the right foods.
• Separate your WIC foods from your non-WIC foods as you shop to make checkout easier. Keeping your WIC foods separate when you checkout can also help you keep track of anything that is not available in your benefits. If items are not available in your benefits, then you have the option to pay for the items or put them back.

Start your checkout

• Separate your WIC foods from your non-WIC items. Some stores may need to scan your WIC items first.
• Tell the cashier you are using your WIC card.
• Ask the cashier when to swipe your WIC card and enter your pin.
• Always swipe your WIC card first before using other forms of payment such as Calfresh, debit card, or cash.
• Pay close attention as the cashier scans each WIC item.

After the cashier scans all of your items

• Look over your WIC purchases and make sure all of the items are correct before your sale is totaled. The cashier may give you a receipt or show you a screen to review.
• Confirm all of your purchases are correct using the card machine. Any foods that cannot be used with your WIC benefits can be put back or purchased using another form of payment.
• Tell the cashier if you want to put something back before the cashier gives you the final receipt.
• Give the cashier your store loyalty card and any coupons you may have.
• Pay for any non-WIC items using another form of payment.
• Wait for the cashier to complete the sale and give you a final receipt. Save your receipt in a safe place, like your wallet.

Be sure to keep and review your receipt after using your WIC card, so you can:

• See what items you have purchased using your WIC benefits.
• Review what you have left in your WIC food balance. Since all of your family benefits will be combined onto the card, you will want to keep track of what you have and have not used in your balance.
• Be aware of when your WIC food benefits will expire. The receipt will show the last date you can buy your WIC foods. Your benefits will expire on that date at midnight.

You have a few options to replace your card. You can:

• Visit your WIC office to replace your lost, stolen, or damaged WIC card.
• Or to report your card lost, stolen or damaged, you can call toll-free number located on your card: 1-844-469-3264. This phone number is available to help you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• You can reach a live person by stating you’ve lost your WIC card and then pressing star (*) when prompted.
• If you believe that your pin number has been compromised, please call this number to stop access to your card.

If you’re experiencing issues with the your food benefits, challenges purchasing WIC-authorized foods at the store, or you have questions about WIC-authorized foods:

• Call us at 1.800.500.6411

If you want to lock/unlock your WIC Card, check your balance, or you’re having issues using your card:

• Call 1.844.4MY.FAMILY (1.844.469.3264)