CERTIFICATION WPPM #210-02 Subject: Eligibility Criteria Item: Adjunctive Eligibility Criteria

Revised California WIC Policy and Procedure Manual Page 1 of 3 January 15, 2026 PURPOSE: To describe the circumstances under which an applicant qualifies as adjunctively income eligible to receive WIC Program benefits, the procedures local agency (LA) staff must follow when making such a determination, and the documentation required. POLICY: I. To be adjunctively income eligible for WIC Program benefits, an applicant must meet one of the following criteria: A. Individual certified as fully eligible to receive Medi-Cal benefits. B. Individual certified as fully eligible to receive CalFresh (SNAP) benefits. C. Individual certified as fully eligible to receive CalWORKs (TANF) benefits. D. A member of a family in which any family member is certified as fully eligible to receive CalWORKs benefits. E. A member of a family in which any infant or pregnant woman is certified as fully eligible to receive Medi-Cal benefits. F. Individual certified in the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR). G. An infant less than or equal to 60 days of age, whose birthing parent is verified to have been receiving Medi-Cal or CalFresh at the time of birth. The infant remains adjunctively eligible for WIC benefits for the full certification period and must not be required to provide proof of active Medi-Cal or CalFresh for that certification period. Infants deemed adjunctively eligible at the time of birth cannot qualify other family members as adjunctively eligible. H. Presumptively eligible applicants for Medi-Cal or CalWORKs are adjunctively eligible for WIC for the entire certification period and are not required to provide proof of active Medi-Cal or CalWORKs for that certification period. Documentation of presumptive eligibility is required. Presumptively eligible applicants cannot qualify other family members as adjunctively eligible. II. Further Proof of Income Not Required A. Applicants who are adjunctively eligible are not subject to income limits established by CDPH/WIC. B. Applicants are required to state an estimate of their income, but proof of income is not required. If the applicant declines or is unable to self-report their income, it must not interfere with their certification. LAs may not require additional income documentation for adjunctively eligible individuals.

CERTIFICATION WPPM #210-02 Subject: Eligibility Criteria Item: Adjunctive Eligibility Criteria

Revised California WIC Policy and Procedure Manual Page 2 of 3 January 15, 2026 PROCEDURES: I. LA staff must ensure that adjunctive eligibility is assessed first and prior to performing a standard income determination. Acceptable sources of proof for adjunctive eligibility can be provided in physical form, displayed in-person via electronic format (e.g., emails, cell phones, tablets, pictures, etc.), or obtained remotely. For acceptable means of obtaining documents remotely, refer to WPPM 220-30. A. When Adjunctive Eligibility Can Be Used to Verify Eligibility 1. Medi-Cal Acceptable Documentation a. Return of “Y” in the Medi-Cal field in Medi-Cal Eligibility Data System (MEDS). The Medi-Cal eligibility aid code obtained via MEDS is used by WIC WISE to identify whether the applicant is adjunctively eligible for WIC. Refer to WPPM 980-1070. b. An aid notification letter if unable to verify with MEDS to show current program participation. c. A presumptive eligibility letter. d. Verification by a county eligibility worker. 2. CalFresh Acceptable Documentation a. Return of “Y” in the CalFresh field of MEDS. b. An aid notification letter if unable to verify with MEDS to show current program participation. c. Verification by a county eligibility worker. 3. CalWORKs Acceptable Documentation a. Return of a “Y” in the CalWORKs field of MEDS. b. An aid notification letter if unable to verify with MEDS to show current program participation. c. A current CalWORKs check stub or remittance advice. d. A presumptive eligibility letter. e. Verification by a county eligibility worker. 4. Infant Deemed Eligible Acceptable Documentation a. Review of the recent birthing parent’s WIC WISE adjunctive eligibility history. b. An aid notification letter confirming that the birthing parent had Medi-Cal and/or CalFresh at the time of birth.

CERTIFICATION WPPM #210-02 Subject: Eligibility Criteria Item: Adjunctive Eligibility Criteria

Revised January 15, 2026 California WIC Policy and Procedure Manual Page 3 of 3 c. Reminder – an infant deemed eligible due to birthing parent having Medi- Cal and/or CalFresh at the time of birth cannot be used qualify other family members as adjunctively eligible for WIC. B. When MEDS Cannot Be Used to Verify Adjunctive Eligibility 1. When MEDS cannot be used to verify participation in Medi-Cal, CalFresh, CalWORKs, LA staff must document adjunctive eligibility in WIC WISE under the following circumstances: a. A non-WIC member of the family qualifies the applicant as adjunctively eligible (LA staff must use the “CONFER” pop-up in WIC WISE). b. Participation in FDPIR qualifies the applicant as adjunctively eligible. The FDPIR provides an alternative to CalFresh for individuals living on or near reservations. An applicant who participates in FDPIR must provide documentation of participation. AUTHORITY: 7 CFR §246.7(d)(2)(v) 7 CFR §246.7(d)(2)(vi) 22 CCR §560262.3 WIC Policy Memorandum #2023-6 Streamlining Certification CROSS REFERENCE: WPPM 980-1070 Medi-Cal Eligibility Codes