WIC Eligibility Estimation Methodology, 2021

Infants

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3,643,654 Total number of infants in the 50 States and District of Columbia

1,070,123 Income-eligible

698,975 Adjunctively income-eligible

1,769,098 Total number of infants income-eligible or adjunctively income-eligible

1,825,015 Annual-to-monthly income adjustment+Nutritional risk adjustment

21,379 Total number of infants eligible in U.S. Territories

1,846,394 Total number of infants eligible for WIC in the U.S.

Children

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14,923,940 Total number of children aged 1–4 in the 50 States
and District of Columbia

4,622,992 Income-eligible

3,136,936 Adjunctively income-eligible

7,759,928

Total number of children income-eligible or adjunctively income-eligible

7,759,928 Annual-to-monthly income adjustment and certification period adjustment+Nutritional risk adjustment

91,086 Total number of children eligible in U.S. Territories

7,851,014 Total number of children eligible for WIC in the U.S.

Pregnant Women

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65,183,790 Total number of women aged 15–44 in the 50 States and District of Columbia

15,190,124Income-eligible

10,152,780Adjunctively income-eligible

25,342,904Total number of women aged 15–44 income-eligible or adjunctively income-eligible

1,113,832 Pregnancy adjustment+Nutritional risk adjustment

14,574 Total number of pregnant women eligible in U.S. Territories

1,128,406 Total number of pregnant women eligible for WIC in the U.S.

Postpartum Breastfeeding Women

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1,825,015 Total number of eligible infants in the 50 States and District of Columbia

787,451 Multiple births and maternal deaths adjustment+Breastfeeding adjustment+Nutritional risk adjustment

9,460 Total number of postpartum breastfeeding women eligible in U.S. Territories

796,911 Total number of postpartum breastfeeding women eligible for WIC in the U.S.

Postpartum Non-Breastfeeding Women

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1,825,015 Total number of eligible infants in the 50 States and District of Columbia

503,535 Multiple births; fetal, infant, and maternal deaths adjustment+Non-breastfeeding adjustment+Nutritional risk adjustment

5,035 Total number of postpartum non-breastfeeding women eligible in U.S. Territories

508,571 Total number of postpartum non-breastfeeding women eligible for WIC in the U.S.

Sources: 2022 Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement (CPS ASEC), 2019 and 2021 Puerto Rico Community Survey (PRCS), 2018–2021 Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP), and 2021 International Database (IDB).

Note: Data for those eligible for WIC through Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs) are included in the data for the State where the ITO is located. Estimates may not sum to totals because of rounding. For more information on how adjustment factors are developed, see chapter 6 of volume I of the report. For more information on how the eligibility estimates are derived, see table C.5 of volume II of the report.

Definitions: For purposes of estimating WIC eligibility, the “economic unit” is defined as all individuals in the CPS ASEC household who were related by blood, marriage, or adoption, plus the unmarried partner of any of those individuals and that partner’s dependents.