Whatever happened to waiting until you can afford a kid to have one and if you can't afford one don't. I guess I'm too old to understand. It's welfare I don't care what you say.

WIC is both good and bad ...

I worked a food bank for over 15 years, counseling and giving food to people who supposedly needed some short term assistance. Over the years I observed that roughly 2 out of every 10 people that came in really needed the help as they were in situations where they could not possibly provide for their families. The other 8 out of 10 were generally freeloaders looking for a handout ... folks wanting free chit ...

I justified working the program by remembering those 2 out of 10 that would be going without if we didn't provide the service. Some would disagree with me, some would be willing to do it just to help 1 out of 10 ...

Anyway my point is that these programs are generally very wasteful. In a perfect world we would have legislation that would tighten up the restrictions so that the freeloaders couldn't get anything but those really in need would ... This is incredibly difficult to do so ... Where do we draw the line?

Whaaaaaaaat? I do not find this statement to be accurate. Why do only poor people use it then?

X2, it was only milk, eggs, bread, some cereal and formula. Not all the crap it is nowadays.

Income guidelines:

http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/howtoapply/incomeguidelines.htm

It is great help to young couples just starting out, like Matt. It helps a lot of families we all know. Getting the fresh fruit and veggies from our local farmers is a win-win.
Alabama used to be dead last in infant mortality. They have worked very hard and have made much improvement, WIC is an important part of it. Good nutrrition for the expectant mother is key a factor.
And you can NOT recieve WIC with any income, there is an income max.
One of the few job gratifications my wife gets is being out around town and having a past WIC family come up and thank her. Does her good to see her wic babies are doing well. Of all the gubberment programs to beat up on, this one ain' one of them.

Best answer yet and I'm only 24. Don't understand why I have to help pay to raise someone else's child.

Because you're going to anyway, what is the alternative? People have unplanned babies, especially young people and a lot that are in the military. Would you have a financial responsibility "cut-off" point, and force abortion if they can't keep the kids comfortably, what if they get laid off or lose their jobs?

"Sorry honey, I had to take a pay cut, you'll have to go to the clinic. Take the other one by the reclaim center on the way, we can't afford him either now"

At least the "help" programs should be helping, not a career path. WIC is as good a program as I've seen, even though it's not perfect. The whole EBT thing makes me nauseous.

They take it at the Fayette market also. At least they are getting good food when they use it there.

God said be fruitful and multiply. He didn't say wait until you have enough money, because you never do. A child is a financial burden on you for their entire life, regardless of income.

Because the human race would be extinct.

Before some of you guys comment on WIC, you might want to read up on it first. If you are going to comment, at least know the facts. That should not be too much to ask.

Since we are foster parents, we have been schooled on WIC. We currently have a little girl in our care who is on WIC. We use her WIC for what she was approved for. WIC office has a formula they use and then they give you a WIC booklet and paper vouchers.

The little girl is 21 months old. She gets 5 vouchers for different products to be used within a 30 day time span. Next 30 day span, you get the same vouchers. Plus they have added for her a ONE TIME $20 voucher for farmer market fruit and veggies that is good for another month I think.

Of the 5 voucher each 30 day period here is what she is given:
$6.00 in fresh veggies or fruit
2 16oz loaves of whole wheat bread or whole wheat tortillas
1 jar peanut butter
1 dozen large eggs
36 ounces of cereal
2 gallons of milk
2 64 ounce bottles of 100% juice
(this is by memory and there is some mix and match with some items, 1 16oz bag of dry beans, 1 bag of brown rice, and maybe one more thing, I forget)

Different age children get approved for different things. There is a color photo booklet of the items allowed. If it ain't in the book, cashiers and computer system will not let it be on WIC. I shop at Publix in Hoover and they check the booklet and take their time making sure the vouchers are correct. It is a very strict program. Last week I picked up peanut butter that was low sodium by accident. The label did not perfectly conform with the WIC approved list so it kicked it out...had to select a different one.

All in all, her WIC vounchers supply about $40-50 per month of basic nutrition. Diapers are not on the list. The board payment we get for fostering does not meet the cost of correctly raising a young toddler. WIC helps offset the cost. It is not the baby's fault her mother chose not to take care of her properly.

We are a nanny state hand out giving nation now. I hate it. But WIC in some cases is a good thing.

There shouldn't be any shame for hardworking tax payers receiving some of their tax money back to properly nourish a child either. Some folks on here are not informed enough to really speak on the subject.

Now freeloading lazies is a different can of worms all by itself.

Good post straycat. Now that's 3 aldeer members that have used WIC and one who's wife works adminesterting it. We all work and pay taxes. Like I said before, if you wanta beat up on a gubberment program ,this ain't it.
BTW, straycat thanks for what you do,class act, and the wife loves working with folks like ya'll.

Make that 4, when I was in the Navy we received WIC coupons, in Long Beach there was a cheese & milk distribution truck that came to Navy Housing once a month as well. Things got a lot better during the Bush administration, but during the 80's & 90's nearly all enlisted men lived below the poverty level.


But it was our choice to serve.

I would almost bet my next paycheck that you can't get a boston butt or rack of ribs on WIC...

Yeah, you could be correct. It could have been EBT approved instead of WIC. I will check the next time they have them, cause I think I may have misspoken.

I ain't gonna bet you though, I work too hard for my money for my brain-fartin head to get in the way.

We was on WIC for a while when my first child was born, formula is expensive. My children are now 25 and 14 months. I've been goin through 6-7 gallons of milk a week here lately! And my wallet can tell

when i got laid off my son was 6 months old and i couldnt find work anywhere i was on unemployment and the 900 dollars a month was just about enough to starve to death on. i was lucky that my house and truck were paid for. wic was a big help and dont knock it till youve had to live that way youll be glad for anything you can get. i think unemployment and wic are both good programs adn i wouldtn knock any of them because most of us are just a couple of missed paychecks from being out on the street you may need the help sooner or later