July 2019

Individual Education Guidelines

Welcome to WIC: Shopping with the California WIC Card

The preferred way for participants to learn about the new

California WIC Card is by attending a group session and watching

the video. If a participant is unable to go to class or watch the

video, they will still need to receive basic information about how to

use their new WIC card. In this case, you can provide the education

by reviewing the brochure, “Welcome to WIC: Shopping with the

California WIC Card” with the participant. These guidelines explain

how to use the brochure and what to say so that you cover all of

the key points.

Procedure:

1. Hand the participant a copy of the brochure

2. Explain that you will review it together so they will know how to shop with the WIC card.

3. Encourage the participant to ask you questions if there is anything that is not clear.

4. Have the participant turn to page 5. Explain that the review will take about 10 minutes.

5. For each page in the brochure, you will see a list of key bullet points for you to cover.

6. Share all of the bullet points for each page

7. Show a copy of the California WIC App poster (it’s the back page). If possible, encourage

the participant to install the App on her/his phone during the appointment.

Optional idea: if you have a package of a WIC-approved food (like an empty cereal box), have

the participant try scanning the bar code after installing the App.

July 2019

GUIDELINES: Reviewing the WIC Card Brochure

Start on page ⑤ and explain:

The card works like a debit card

You choose a 4-number PIN

You enter the PIN when you shop

All family’s benefits are on one card

Bring it to your appointment as an ID

Turn to page ⑥

Keep your PIN safe

Only share it if you ask someone to shop for you

If you enter the wrong PIN 4 times it will lock

You can call 1-844-469-3264 to unlock it

(1-844-4MYFAMILY)

Page ⑦

The food balance lists

o the food items

o the amounts your family gets for each month

o the first and last days to use

All of your family’s foods are on ONE card

As you see here, there are many ways to find

your WIC food balance

Take a minute to look at this list [pause for ppt to read]

ASK: What questions do you have about

finding your food balance?

Tip: keep your most recent receipt with your card

July 2019

Page ⑧

Benefits are good for 30 days.

There is a “first day to use” and “last day to use”

Benefits expire at midnight on the last day to use

To find an authorized store:

o Use WIC App

o Look for logo on store window

o Ask us here at WIC!

o NOTE: the WIC card is accepted in our area now. More areas of the state will be added gradually over the next 9 or 10 months. If you plan to travel outside this area, check if the store is accepting the WIC card. A list of stores that take the WIC card is available on the site: www.myfamily.wic.ca.gov

We will take a closer look at the App in a minute

Page ⑨

When shopping, you can use

o The Shopping Guide (show it)

o Scan bar code with the App

Remember, separate WIC from non-WIC foods

Pages ⑩ & ⑪

There are many useful tips on these pages

and I will point out a few:

Tell cashier you are using the WIC Card

Swipe WIC card before other forms of

payment

Make sure it is all correct*

Save your receipt

Good news: there is nothing for you to sign!

*Explain: Only foods entered in the WIC approved database will scan as WIC allowed.

Managers cannot do an override, so use your Shopping Guide as you shop.

July 2019

Pages ⑫ & ⑬

[As you read through, let participant find the area on the

sample receipt in their booklet.]

Let’s take a quick look at a sample receipt.

1st arrow points to the foods you bought

2nd shows any discounts for coupons

Next you see when the benefits expire

Last area shows your remaining balance of foods. The units column gives you your total. Look at the Shopping Guide to see WIC package sizes.

The receipt shows dollar amount of your remaining Fruit & Vegetable benefit

Page ⑭ Your card has a magnetic stripe. To keep it from being damaged:

Do not bend your card

Keep it away from cell phones

Protect it from heat, sun, magnets

Pages ⑮ & ⑯

Call the number on the back of the card

(HINT: add this to your phone contacts)

If lost or stolen

To change your PIN

You need your balance

You can always call your WIC office, too! We can help

with questions about your benefits.

The New California WIC App

Find all these at your fingertips:

• WIC locations

• WIC grocers

• WIC Shopping Guide

• Your WIC Food Balance

• UPC scanner to identify WIC authorized foods

• Your next WIC appointment

• Resources for families

• WIC income guidelines

• Plus much more!

To register, you will need the information below:

• Email address

• Active WIC card number

• Cardholder’s date of birth

• Cardholder’s zip code

California Department of Public Health, California WIC Program This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

1-800-852-5770 | www.wicworks.ca.gov 05/19

Download today,

for free!