WIC switching from paper coupons to electronic cards
COSHOCTON – The WIC office is excited to be transitioning its clients from paper coupons to electronic benefit cards.
“They are similar, but not the same as food stamp cards,” said Willa Hamersley, director of
Coshocton WIC. “The WIC Nutrition Card stores information on a chip. The state WIC office started rolling this out last May or June and has slowly been bringing more counties on board. We just started with this March 23 and the state’s goal is to have everybody on it by the end of July. Right now the paper coupons are still being taken by stores.”
WIC clients however, have to wait until their next scheduled appointment to get their new card.
“We can put up to four members of one family on a card so you don’t have to carry fists full of coupons around anymore or worry about signing them at the register,” Hamersley said.
The benefits clients receive will still be the same and the card will keep them separated by months.
When participants receive their card they must create a personal pin number and bring the card back with them to appointments where they are scheduled to receive more food. Like the paper coupons, you will only receive three months of available food items at one time.
“That day you will get a list of what foods you are assigned and a beginning balance,” Hamersley said. “You also can get quantities of your assigned foods as you need them. You don’t have to buy several items at one time like you did with the paper coupons.”
When you use the card at a store you will need to know your pin number in order to purchase your items and get receipts saying what your beginning balance is, what you’ve spent and your new balance. People are advised to keep their receipts so they always know what is left on their card.
“It’s new and people are nervous about it, but really nothing has changed except the way you are getting food,” Hamersley said. “You are still getting the same food in the same quantities. You are just getting it from the store in a different way.”
Along with their card, clients receive a little booklet with information that also contains a slot for keeping your card and receipts.
“This is a great thing for us to rollout,” Hamersley said. “It does away with a lot of paperwork.”
If anyone has questions about the new WIC Nutrition Card or is having problems using it, they are welcome to contact the local WIC office at 740-622-2929.
josie@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
Category: People & Places