Updated 3-2020 Connecticut WIC Program Manual

WIC 400-05 SECTION: Food Delivery

SUBJECT: Benefit Issuance and Q&A Guidance See Also: CT WIC Policy 200-29 (Transfer of Foster Children Between Families) POLICY Families will be issued one eWIC card. All active participants’ benefits will be aggregated on the family’s card.

Benefit Loaded Thru (BLT) Date The BLT date is the last day of the current month’s benefits. Although a participant may be set for three month issuance, only one month of benefits is loaded at a time. Food benefits for the current month expire at 12:00 midnight on the ending or BLT date. For example, if benefits are issued on June 16, the BLT date is July 15. Benefit Valid Thru (BVT) Date When a participant is issued 3 months of benefits, the BVT is the last day of the third month. For example, if benefits are issued on June 16 the BVT date is September 15. Essentially benefits are valid until 1 day before the next Benefits Start Date (BSD).

Benefit Start Date (BSD) The benefit start date is the first day benefits are issued for a family. Once benefits are issued for a Family ID, the BSD cannot be changed; it remains the same for all existing and future family members. This date represents the first day benefits are valid. Food benefits for upcoming months will be deposited at 12:00 midnight on the beginning date.

Benefit Prorating Benefits will only be prorated to align a participant’s benefit issuance date to the family Benefit Start Date. Benefits are prorated based on a 10-day cycle and are prorated by 1/3 of the monthly benefits.

For example, a pregnant woman starts WIC on June 16th. Her benefits will always begin on the 16th of the month. She comes back 2 weeks later (July 1st) to certify her child. While the child wasn’t added to WIC until July 1st their BSD is the 16th, which is the same as other family members. Since this is 14 days into the cycle the child will receive 2/3 of the full amount issued for monthly benefits. If she came in on July 10th the child would receive 1/3 of the full amount issued for monthly benefits.

Participants who are reaching categorical termination will be issued 30 days of full benefits regardless of date of termination.

Benefit Issuance When scheduling the participant’s future appointment date, consider the benefit start date.

For example, the participant’s next benefit start date may be June 16. Since this date is a Sunday, the participant’s future appointment date may be the Friday before, June 14, or the following Monday, June 17.

Updated 3-2020 Guidance Q: Can parents/caregivers of 6-11 month infants have the option of requesting all formula vs. baby food? STATE AGENCY RESPONSE: No. The food packages are issued based on the age of the infant. The mother will not have an option to select more formula instead of baby foods. Adjustments in amounts of formula for 6-11 month infants (getting formula in amounts of 4-5 month old package) can only be made with medical documentation.

Q: Interim Food Package Rule Table 3-Food Package III, footnote 15 states “32 dry ounces of infant cereal may be substituted for 36 oz of breakfast cereal. Can we offer infant cereal to those children with medical issues requesting it by the MD? STATE AGENCY RESPONSE: Yes, children receiving Food Package III will be able to receive four (4) 8 oz. cartons of Beechnut infant cereal instead of 36 oz of breakfast cereal. Medical documentation is needed to make this substitution, as it is only allowed in FP III and the form is necessary for all foods provided in this food package. All other items must be tailored out if necessary and no other substitutions are allowed.

Q: If a child is prescribed Pediasure and the doctor doesn’t mark whole milk, would they still get LF [lowfat] milk? What if the doctor wants whole milk and no other medical food? Could we give just whole milk with no medical food and document as to why? STATE AGENCY RESPONSE: A doctor wouldn’t necessarily require whole milk for a child on Pediasure as a rule. We would issue benefits for lowfat milk and suggest the mom purchase 2%. The difference in calories between whole and 2% is negligible and it is a more heart healthy alternative. Additionally, you may also be concerned that if the child is consuming 3 cans of Pediasure per day and the entire allotment of fluid milk they may not be able to eat (due to sheer volume) adequate amounts of solids which could also present a nutritional problem. No, Food Package III is used to provide medical foods and conventional supplemental foods. There is no option to provide whole milk without the issuance of a formula or medical food to a child over 2 years of age. Whole milk for children 2 years and older and women is not authorized in any food package but Food Package III.

Q: Can we have a food item checklist so people can pre-select their food items prior to sitting w/the nutritionist? Can a tool for food preferences/frequency be developed to assist the local agency with the interview re: food benefits choices (to decrease time expended on process)?

Updated 3-2020 STATE AGENCY RESPONSE: We may consider this for returning participants, however, since the food package prescription is individualized and based on a complete nutrition assessment we may not want to provide this option for new applicants or those participants changing categories i.e. pregnant mom to breastfeeding mom. Additionally, if specific health related issues come up during the course of the assessment, certain food items or options may not apply to all participants. New system allows more choices among food categories and subcategories, which confer more participant responsibilities in selecting adequate food.