County WIC recipients can now get online grocery service
MICHIGAN — Low-income mothers and young children in Michigan can now order groceries online using state food benefits, ending a long-standing requirement that forced recipients to shop in person.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced the expansion Tuesday, marking the first time participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, commonly known as WIC, can redeem benefits through a digital storefront.
Grand Rapids-based supercenter chain Meijer is the first state retailer authorized to accept online WIC payments through its website and mobile app.
Local public health officials say the change addresses a practical hurdle for young families, particularly those navigating transportation limits, tight work schedules, or childcare constraints.
“It’s an important step toward making it easier for young families to access healthy, nutritious foods,” said representatives at the St. Clair County Health Department, which administers the local WIC program serving families across its region.
Under the new system, participants link their state WIC Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card to a retail shopping account. The online interface automatically filters and flags eligible food items — such as milk, eggs, cereal, and infant formula — before checkout.
Historically, federal rules required federal WIC benefit redemption to occur at a physical register, creating a persistent gap as general grocery retail shifted toward digital ordering and curbside pickup over the last decade.
Approximately 190,000 pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children under 5 receive monthly WIC benefits across Michigan.
“This partnership with Meijer represents an important step forward in modernizing the WIC shopping experience by expanding digital access, reducing barriers, and providing families with greater flexibility to redeem their benefits,” said Christina Herring, director of the Michigan WIC Program.
To support the launch, Meijer is offering free home delivery on WIC online orders, alongside free curbside pickup for orders exceeding $35. State officials anticipate additional grocery retailers will qualify for the online program as implementation continues statewide.
The Michigan WIC Program serves more than 187,000 women, infants and children each month by providing healthy foods, nutrition education and counseling, breastfeeding promotion and support, and referrals to other helpful programs and resources.
Michigan WIC plans to expand online shopping to other retailers in the future. This initiative is made possible through collaboration with Meijer and eWIC processor Fidelity National Information Services / Central Data Processing.
Funding from the 2023 WIC Modernization Grant has enabled the launch of this project. More information is available at Michigan WIC Online Shopping.
To learn more about the WIC Program, visit Michigan.gov/wic.
