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H.R. 10393: WIC for Kids Act

This bill would change the rules for the WIC program so that eligible children and families can stay enrolled longer and go through fewer paperwork steps.

What the bill changes

Extends child certification periods from 1 year to 2 years. Children who qualify for WIC could remain certified for a longer time before needing to renew.
Makes recertification easier for some families. If one person in a household is certified based on income or other qualifying documentation, the state could align certification dates for other eligible family members so the household can renew at the same time.
Automatically enrolls certain infants. An infant born to a pregnant person already participating in WIC would be certified without requiring a separate application.
Requires states to check for recertification eligibility before asking for new income documents. If a participant already qualifies for another certification pathway, the state would have to recertify them and notify them before requesting new income paperwork.
Expands the categories of people who can qualify through “adjunctive” eligibility. The bill would add or clarify eligibility for households connected to:
- Medicaid or CHIP coverage, including households with a pregnant woman, postpartum woman, infant, or child enrolled;
- Head Start participation;
- the food distribution program on Indian reservations;
- nutrition assistance programs funded through block grants for Puerto Rico, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Allows states to use recent documentation already on hand. For certain eligibility paths, an applicant can provide proof of assistance, or the state agency can use available records showing that assistance was received, as long as the documentation is recent enough.
Lets states certify eligible family members together. The bill would let state or local agencies start a new certification period for other eligible family members so the household can be handled on the same schedule.
Extends automatic certification to children in kinship families. It would update the law to include children living in kinship care arrangements in a provision that provides automatic eligibility.

Practical effect

In plain terms, the bill is aimed at making WIC easier to access and keep, especially for infants and children. It would likely reduce repeat applications, cut down on paperwork, and help families stay on the program without gaps when they still qualify.