The US federal government has a couple of benefits extended to citizens with low incomes and those requiring nutritional support.
The WIC card is used to support postpartum women and infants below five years old. Like any other EBT card, they’re restricted to make sure recipients use them for the intended purpose.
Holders can only use them at select retail outlets. In this piece, we’ll look at the use of WIC cards at Trader Joe’s and explain if you can buy items here or not.
Read on;
Contents
Does Trader Joe’s Accept WIC?
No. Trader Joe’s is not one of the authorized retailers under the WIC program, and you cannot buy items using this card at any of their outlets.
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infants and Children (WIC) is a program that extends supplemental foods, nutrition education, referrals, access to health services, and breastfeeding promotion to eligible people.
Applications are made in states, and eligible persons must be;
- Pregnant
- Breastfeeding
- Postpartum
- Children under the age of five
In addition, applicants must meet specific income eligibility requirements. Individuals who qualify for other benefits such as SNAP or Medicaid are automatically eligible in terms of income. Some items you can get with the WIC card include;
- Milk
- Yogurt
- Whole grains
- Concentrate juice
- Peanut butter
- Cereals
- Infant formula
- Infant meat
Most of these items are not standard and have a WIC label on their packaging.
Why Does Trader Joe’s Not Accept WIC?
Trader Joe’s is not one of the WIC-approved outlets. However, it accepts cards holding other benefits, for instance, the SNAP EBT cards.
WIC benefits are specific and only retailers that have a good collection of beneficial items to eligible persons are authorized.
Other Payment Methods Accepted in Trader Joe’s
When shopping at Trader Joe’s, you can pay in a couple of ways, including;
- Credit card
- Debit card
- EBT card
- Cash
- Check
- Gift card
About Trader Joe’s Stores
Trader Joe’s is a chain of grocery stores with headquarters in California. The first store was opened in 1967 by founder Joe Coulombe. Today, the store has over 530 outlets nationwide.
This chain takes pride in offering customers the most common grocery items at great prices. Most of the products in their stores are branded with Trader Joe’s name to cut the cost of having expensive suppliers stock their products on their shelves.
Does Trader Joe’s Accept WIC In Selected States?
Trader Joe’s is not a WIC-authorized retailer, and all the 530 outlets do not accept WIC cards as a form of payment.
Where Can You Use Your WIC Card Online?
You can use the WIC card to buy groceries online but in limited outlets. This option was only launched recently, and it has not been extended to all retailers in the WIC-approved list. A few that accept WIC cards for online shopping include; Walmart, BJ’s Wholesale Club, and Giant Food.
