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WIC Checkout Questions
Can WIC customers use coupons for items they are buying with WIC?
Can WIC customers get an item free if they are using a buy one get one free coupon?
If an item is on sale, do I charge the regular price or the sale price?
Does a WIC customer have to buy every item that is listed on their benefit balance?
Can WIC customers receive a rain check for an item if the store is out of the item or if it will not ring up as WIC allowed?
What do I do if a WIC customer tries to purchase an unauthorized food item?
How should I handle a situation in which the WIC customer is abusive or not courteous to a store cashier?
Can a WIC customer purchase 2 one-half gallon milk containers if there is one gallon available on the WIC Card?
Can a WIC customer buy sliced cheese?
Why are stores required to stock a certain number of cans of WIC-approved formula?
Questions or Feedback
Can WIC customers use coupons for items they are buying with WIC?
Yes. In fact, using coupons helps cut food costs allowing the WIC program to serve more people.
Can WIC customers get an item free if they are using a buy one get one free coupon?
Yes, they can. If the offer relates to a product a WIC customer can purchase with his or her WIC Card, then you must allow the WIC participant to use the coupon too. Please note that the "free" item will be given in addition to the other products on the WIC Card.
If an item is on sale, do I charge the regular price or the sale price?
You must charge the WIC customer the same amount you would charge any other customer.
Does a WIC customer have to buy every item that is listed on their benefit balance?
No. WIC customers can purchase what they want when they want it, as long as the purchase is made by 11:59PM on the expiration date.
Can WIC customers receive a rain check for an item if the store is out of the item or if it will not ring up as WIC allowed?
No, a store is not allowed to give out any "rain checks" for any WIC food items. WIC customers can use those benefits elsewhere or at another time (before the benefit expiration date).
What do I do if a WIC customer tries to purchase an unauthorized food item?
In some cases, you may not know that the customer attempted to purchase an item that is not WIC allowed, or not included in their available benefits. If the customer asks why a food they thought was WIC allowed does not appear on the midpoint receipt, there is nothing the cashier can do to allow the item. Politely tell the customer that the item is not WIC allowed or not included in their benefits, and that it cannot be purchased with the WIC card. If the customer is insistent or rude, you may complete and submit to the WIC Program a Customer Incident Report.
How should I handle a situation in which the WIC customer is abusive or not courteous to a store cashier?
In general, helping a customer understand why a food is not WIC allowed can help de-escalate a tense situation. The Cashier Training – Integrated Stores module has helpful tips to help with troubleshooting common WIC transaction issues. If a WIC customer is rude, or attempts to violate WIC Program rules, you may complete and submit to the WIC Program a Customer Incident Report. Please make sure you fill in as much information regarding what happened as possible. When we receive this form, the local agency which provides WIC services to the participant's family will discuss the situation with the family or take more serious action, if warranted.
Can a WIC customer purchase 2 one-half gallon milk containers if there is one gallon available on the WIC Card?
Yes, milk can be purchased in either half gallon or gallon containers.
Can a WIC customer buy sliced cheese?
No - only blocks, shredded or string cheese in an 8 to 16 ounce package is allowed.
Why are stores required to stock a certain number of cans of WIC-approved formula?
By requiring certain minimum amounts of formula in stock, we are hoping to ensure that a WIC customer's benefits can be filled when he/she comes into your store, rather than having him or her unable to us the WIC Card that day. If you have not sold a particular type of formula to any WIC customers for at least six months in a row, call the WIC Program to discuss the situation.