SALT LAKE CITY – Families receiving benefits from the Utah Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program will have a streamlined shopping experience thanks to a new EBT card launching August 1, 2024.
WIC, the supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children, will provide the modernized benefit cards to more than 30,000 Utah families. With updated technology available for the new cards, WIC purchases will process in real time and users can quickly monitor their benefit balances on the WICShopper app (Android, iPhone)
“This new card makes it easier for WIC shoppers to make informed decisions about their food purchases,” said JoDell Geilmann-Parke, Utah WIC Vendor Manager. “Improving the accessibility and efficiency of WIC benefits supports our goal of providing healthy nutrition resources to Utah families.”
Along with improving the technology for the benefits card, Utah WIC has authorized the use of self-checkout lanes at more than 100 additional stores. Self-checkout is now available at all major retailers including Associated Food Stores, Smith’s, WinCo, and Walmart.
Additionally, WIC clinics can now troubleshoot participant accounts remotely. Previously, families were required to bring their WIC card to an appointment where the card would be physically inserted into a card reader in order to access the benefits history. Thanks to new cloud-based technology, staff can now connect with WIC accounts virtually to correct or adjust food prescriptions.
All of these changes will reduce the time WIC shoppers spend checking out at the grocery store and increase benefit redemption. These changes support a core focus of the Department of Health and Human Services to provide exemplary customer service and be an efficient and effective department.
Utah WIC currently serves 46,869 women, infants and children. WIC is currently authorized at 270 grocery stores. For more information about the Utah WIC program and the new benefit card, please visit wic.utah.gov.