Does Dollar General Accept WIC?

Through the WIC program, the government of the United States has been able to cushion the nutritional problem in the country. With the benefits program, Women, Infants, and Children can access supplemental nutritious foods, including beans, cereal, cheese, eggs, milk, and baby formula free. Seeing the importance of the WIC Benefit program, WIC beneficiaries would want to know if Dollar General, with its 18,000 stores across the U.S accepts payments with the WIC electronic card. Does Dollar General Accept WIC?

Does Dollar General Accept WIC?

Dollar General does not accept the WIC electronic card as a means of payment in its stores. The retail chain accepts cash, credit card, debit card, and PayPal as means of payment. If you need to use your WIC card, you can check with the nearest Walgreens, Walmart, Safeway, or Target store.

WIC-Eligible Items

Not all food items are covered by the WIC benefit program. The USDA has a list of all eligible items that participating stores follow. That being said, a participating store in the program does not have to offer all the food items on the USDA-approved list. It is best to reach out to your state agency to be sure of the food items your local store offers on the WIC program. 

The following are some of the WIC-eligible food items.

  • Cheese
  • Cereal
  • Eggs
  • Milk
  • Fruits that are rich in Vitamin C
  • Infant cereal
  • Adult cereal
  • Infant formula
  • Canned fish
  • Dried beans
  • Dried peas
  • Soy beverages
  • Yogurt
  • Tofu
  • Fruits and vegetables
  • Peanut butter
  • Whole-wheat bread
  • Whole grains
  • Vegetable juice

How to Make Payment with Your WIC Card?

You can pay for your WIC items by

  • Selecting WIC as your payment option.
  • Or swiping your WIC electronic card on the machine.
  • Your receipt will be printed to see if there was an error in your deduction
  • You can also view your WIC balance from the receipt.

Grocery Stores that Accept WIC

Since the WIC program runs across the country, there is no shortage of participating stores across the states. Below are some of them.

  • Safeway 
  • Acme Markets
  • CVS 
  • Publix
  • Rite Aid
  • Target
  • Walgreens
  • Walmart
  • Kroger

Few Points to Note before Shopping with Your WIC Electronic Card In-Store:

  • When shopping with your WIC card in the store, leverage the WIC Shopping Guide to know the food and quantity of the food that is covered by the WIC benefits.
  • Before the cashier begins your transaction, tell them that you would be using the WIC electronic card for payment.
  • If you are also buying food that is not on the WIC program, you should tell the cashier so that they can calculate the cost of those items separately.
  • When paying for non-WIC items, pay for the WIC items first before proceeding to pay for the other items with your cash, debit card, or whatever other forms of payment they allow in the store.
  • After each shopping, the food balance on your WIC card will appear on your receipt.

Is There A Limit To The Amount Of Food I Can Get with WIC Benefit?

Yes. As a WIC beneficiary, you have an allotted amount of food they buy. You can buy any of the eligible food items on the WIC program, but you have to buy in line with the balance on your WIC account. In some cases, beneficiaries can only buy the supplemental food they lack or require in their diet.

 How Long Do WIC Beneficiaries Stay on the Program?

WIC is not designed for the long term. Beneficiaries are expected to leave the program after a couple of certifications. All WIC beneficiaries (whether children, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, or postpartum women) are expected to leave the program at the end of one. It could also be as short as six months. The good thing is that they can reapply to benefit from the program again.

Conclusion

Dollar General does not accept the WIC payment method for its items. You can use your WIC at Kroger, Walmart, or Target stores near you.

Faqs

  • How Can I Apply for WIC Benefits Program?

You can apply for the WIC benefit program by:

  • Check your local or state agency website for contact details.
  • Call your local or state agency. It is toll-free.
  • Set up an appointment.
  • Tell them your location.
  • You will be directed to the nearest WIC center to you.
  • Take whatever they require you to bring to the center.
  •  How Can I Apply to Be a WIC Participant Store?

To apply to become a WIC participant store:

Check your local or state agency’s website for contact information.

Call them to ask for the requirements and any other information you need to become a participating store.

  • How to rectify forgotten WIC PIN

If you forgot your WIC PIN or got your WIC blocked for entering it incorrectly, contact the WIC office for assistance. Only they can help you unlock or recover your PIN.

Meanwhile, if you entered the incorrect PIN four (4) consecutively, your WIC electronic card will be blocked till the end of that day. Don’t panic, try to remember the correct combination. After midnight on that day, you can re-enter the correct PIN without the need to contact the WIC office.

Does Dollar General Accept WIC?

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