Governor Abbott, HHSC Announce Additional Food Benefits For Texas WIC Families This Summer | Office of the Texas Governor
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Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) today announced a temporary increase in food benefits for families participating in the Texas Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) through September 2021. This temporary increase includes, in particular, the purchase of fruit and vegetables.
“This increase in benefits will help Texans participating in WIC bring more fruits and vegetables to their families this summer,” said Governor Abbott. “I thank Food and Nutrition Service and HHSC for their continued partnership to ensure Texas children and their families have access to nutritious, healthy food.”
“Texas WIC provides high nutritional foods that provide key nutrients at key stages of development,” said Edgar Curtis, director of the Texas WIC. “This early life nutritional support leads to stronger, smarter, healthier, and happier children and Texans. The focus of this strategy is on fresh fruit and vegetables that are fortified with vitamins and other phytonutrients. “
The American Rescue Plan Act went into effect in March 2021 and allows states to temporarily allocate up to $ 35 per child and adult per month on fruits and vegetables. This added benefit enables WIC customers to buy more fresh fruits and vegetables so they can eat healthier foods.
Due to federal law, Texas WIC customers receive four months of additional benefits from June through September. Customers will receive the benefits three months in advance and existing customers should have the $ 35 in their benefits as early as June.
WIC customers include pregnant and breastfeeding women and children up to the age of five who also meet the income guidelines. All WIC customers are encouraged to meet their next appointment for additional benefits.
WIC is a federal nutrition program administered by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. The program offers mothers and families with children under 5 years of age healthy nutrition, individual nutritional advice, recipes, nutrition courses and support with breastfeeding. The program serves approximately 700,000 women and children monthly. More information about Texas WIC can be found at TexasWIC.org.
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