Chris Schulz Published

DHHR Announces Increase To WIC Supplements

Researchers project that by 2050, an estimated 1.5 billion more people will live in places with insufficient supply of fruits and vegetables to meet their daily intake recommendations – unless challenges such as food waste and improved productivity are solved.
Listen

The state’s Department of Health and Human Resources has announced increases to a nutritional benefits program.

The DHHR has announced a monthly increase in Cash-Value Benefits, which allows for the purchase of vegetables and fruits by the state’s WIC participants.

Increases include $73.50 for breastfeeding women with multiple children, $49 for pregnant women of twins and breastfeeding women of a single child, and $25 for a child 12 months through age five.

According to the National WIC Association, under normal circumstances, the monthly CVB is $9 per child and $11 for pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women.

The American Rescue Plan allowed state agencies to temporarily provide up to $35 per child and adult, per month.

The increase is funded to states by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service through a federal continuing resolution.