Colorado WIC Program Policies and Procedures Section 8: Certification, Eligibility and Coordination Revised: 10/01/2018

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Proxies

Policy: WIC endorsers may allow another individual to attend a WIC appointment as their proxy.

Regulation: 7 CFR 246.2

Procedure/Addional Guidance: Proxy means any person designated by a woman participant, or by a parent or caretaker of an infant or child participant, to obtain food benefits on behalf of a participant. Parents or caretakers applying on behalf of child and infant participants are not proxies.

The Role of the Proxy:  The endorser/participant can choose a proxy to attend the WIC appointment and receive the household’s food benefits on their behalf.  A proxy can only pick-up benefits and receive nutrition education; they are not allowed to certify or recertify participants.  Participant auto termed during a certification period may be reinstated with a Proxy.  Use of a proxy is limited to twice in a six-month period. Professional discretion may be used to allow a proxy to attend more than twice in a six-month period or to receive more than one month’s food benefits. If a proxy is needed more than two times in a six-month certification, it is an indication for staff to problem solve with the endorser and determine if the endorser needs to be changed and/or determine if the participant is eligible for an Education Choice option for follow up visits.

Procedure:  When a proxy is used, issue one month’s food benefits (loaded to the household account). o Compass allows up to 3 proxies to be listed on the Family panel. If additional proxy names are needed, previously listed proxy names should be changed to “inactive.”  Staff must verify endorser authorization by either a signed note, an email from the endorser’s email address on file, or a verbal approval.  The Proxy attending the WIC appointment shows proof of identification.  WIC staff enters the proxy’s name in the proxy field on the Family panel.  WIC staff issues benefits. Proxy signs electronically to indicate that he/she acknowledges that the WIC benefits have been issued to the WIC participant’s household account.  WIC staff record the proxy’s proof of identification in the food benefit screen in Compass.