The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Overseas Program provides several important benefits: nutritious food that will contribute to a healthier diet, education on nutrition and proper diet, tips on how to prepare a balanced meal, nutrition and health screening, and access to other resources to lead a healthy life. WIC Overseas is designed to provide additional nutritional food items to supplement other foods purchased by eligible beneficaries. Participants receive redeemable food coupons called "drafts" for specified foods and quantities. Drafts can only be redeemed for specific food items at overseas commissaries and NEXMARTs. The following is a summary of the program:
WIC Eligibility:
Your family gross income falls at or below 185 percent of the U.S. income guidelines. A family whose gross exceeds 185 percent may be eligible if the woman, her infants or children are determined to be at nutritional risk for medical or dietary reasons.
Pregnant women are eligible throughout their pregnancy and up to six weeks after delivery, or when the pregnancy ends. Breastfeeding women can continue to use the program until the infant's first birthday, while women who are not breastfeeding can use it for up to six months after the child's birth.
Approved Food List:
Nutrition counselors provide approved food lists that specify type, brand, and quantity of foods that can be purchased using WIC Overseas, but the following food items are generally available through the WIC Overseas program:
- Iron-fortified infant formula and infant cereal
- Iron-fortified adult cereal
- Vitamin C-rich fruit and/or vegetable juice
- Eggs
- Milk
- Cheese
- Peanut butter
- Dried beans or peas
- Canned tuna
- Vitamin A-rich vegetable
WIC Overseas Program Office Locations:
The WIC Overseas Program offices are located in Germany, England, Belgium, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Japan, Korea, Turkey, Portugal, Central America and Iceland. Please check with your local base or installation telephone operator to obtain the WIC Overseas office listing in your area.
For more information about the WIC Overseas program and program contacts, please visit the Website at: www.tricare.mil/Wic.
