WIC CARD AND FOOD BENEFITS WPPM #330-30 Subject: Food Benefits Receipt and Distribution Item: Remote Issuance of Food Benefits

Revised California WIC Policy and Procedure Manual Page 1 of 2 March 26, 2026 PURPOSE: To provide guidance on the remote issuance of food benefits. POLICY: I. Remote Issuance of Food Benefits A. Food benefit issuance should be coordinated with regularly scheduled WIC appointments for nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and other health services whenever possible. II. LAs can issue food benefits remotely under the following circumstances: A. Participants whose certifications were completed remotely and who are in 30-day short certification are eligible for no more than one month of remote benefit issuance. Participants in a 60-day short certification period for missing proof of pregnancy are eligible for no more than two months of remote benefit issuance. B. Participant must meet one of the specific circumstances described below. All other circumstances not listed require CDPH/WIC approval prior to remote issuance of benefits. 1. A local weather/flood/fire/disaster “alert,” “warning,” or “advisory” has been declared by the National Weather Service (NWS), California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), or a county-based alert system. All other circumstances due to weather conditions without an NWS alert must be approved by CDPH/WIC prior to the remote issuance of food benefits. 2. WIC Web Information System Exchange (WIC WISE) downtime. 3. Imminent childbirth or recent postpartum. 4. Lack of transportation. 5. A local emergency situation has been declared during which the area population has been advised to stay indoors by local authorities and/or the Emergency Broadcast System (e.g., a natural gas leak, poor air quality, etc.). 6. Medically diagnosed illness, such as confinement to bed rest. 7. Medically documented physical disability preventing travel or a family member with medically documented special health care needs. 8. Quarantine due to a potentially severe communicable disease (e.g., flu, chicken pox, etc.), and/or an immune disorder. 9. Remote education contact (phone, online, video) offered and documented.

WIC CARD AND FOOD BENEFITS WPPM #330-30 Subject: Food Benefits Receipt and Distribution Item: Remote Issuance of Food Benefits

Revised March 26, 2026 California WIC Policy and Procedure Manual Page 2 of 2

10. Site emergency resulting in closure. 11. Remote appointment completed for certification/recertification. Refer to WPPM 220-10. C. A participant’s request for remote food benefit issuance is allowable. PROCEDURES: I. Prior to remote issuance of food benefits, LA staff must: A. Attempt to contact the participant/family representative to 1. Offer required Nutrition Education Contacts (NECs) if missing. Refer to 400-08. 2. Inform the participant about food benefit issuance and that they can contact the LA to make any changes. B. Schedule the next appointment. II. When issuing food benefits remotely, LA staff: A. Must check the “Remote Benefit Issuance” checkbox in WIC WISE and select the appropriate reason from the dropdown menu. B. Can issue up to three months of food benefits as long as the requirements for triple issuance have been met. Refer to WPPM 330-10. AUTHORITY: 7 CFR §246.12(r)(2) Signature Requirement 7 CFR §246.12(r)(4) Food instrument and cash-value voucher pick-up 22 CCR §40749(c) Participant use of food instruments CROSS REFERENCE: WPPM 220-10 Video and Phone Appointments WPPM 330-10 Single/Double/Triple Issuance WPPM 400-08 Frequency of Nutrition Education Contacts (NECs)