Benefits for food and formula will keep flowing to women, infants and children into November despite the federal government shutdown, according to Ohio’s Department of Health.
The WIC (women, infant and children) program serves about 13,000 people in Cuyahoga County each month, using federal funding. The short-term program supports nutrition for pregnant and postpartum women, infants and children up to age 5. The benefits can be spent on nutritious foods and baby formula, while the program also provides education and counseling for new and soon-to-be parents.
It’s separate from SNAP benefits, formerly known as food stamps, which help families who have low incomes pay for groceries. SNAP benefits won’t be distributed this November as long as the federal government remains shut down, the county has warned. About 190,000 people in Cuyahoga County will lose dollars for food as a result.
But the state has funding to continue the WIC program into November, according to a spokesperson for Ohio’s Department of Health. It did not clarify whether the benefits would be available throughout all of November.
“Participants will continue to receive WIC food benefits,” wrote Michaela Sumner, a public information officer with the Ohio Department of Health, in an email to Signal Cleveland. “Local WIC clinics are open for WIC services and appointments.”
The spokesperson did not respond to a question about the source of funding Ohio is using to keep WIC open. Earlier this month, the Trump administration used $300 million in tariff funds to keep WIC afloat until the end of October. The National WIC Association urged the administration to find another source of funding to keep the benefits program running in November. It’s unclear whether the administration will find more stopgap funds.
The department of health encouraged parents who receive the benefits to continue shopping for the foods WIC pays for, like eggs, milk, fruits and vegetables.
In Cuyahoga County, 15 clinics pass out the WIC benefits. MetroHealth administers the offices, where residents can get screened for eligibility. Residents must have an income below 185% of the federal poverty level to qualify. In addition, residents must have either a medical condition that puts them at nutritional risk – like anemia – or a poor diet.
Find a WIC clinic here.
Emma Sedlak, a freelancer with Signal Cleveland, contributed reporting to this article.