CHARLESTON — Participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children will receive a temporary benefit increase for the purchase of fruits and vegetables, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, Bureau for Public Health, Office of Nutrition Services announced.

Through $490 million in support to the program from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, the United States Department of Agriculture has offered a boost to the cash-value benefit amount for June, July, August and September. The boost will allow the state program to temporarily increase the benefit to $35 per month for each eligible participant.

The current monthly benefit is $9 per child, $11 for pregnant or postpartum women and $16.50 for breastfeeding women. WIC clinics will distribute the increased benefits June 1 through Sept. 30.

“Investing in WIC helps address food insecurity, a critical issue faced by many West Virginia families during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Heidi Staats, state WIC director, said. “The USDA funding more than triples the fruit and vegetable benefit to allow purchase and consumption of more canned, frozen and fresh fruits and vegetables.”

The program provides women, infants, and children up to the age of 5, who are at nutritional risk, with healthy foods to supplement their diets as well as breastfeeding support, nutrition education and health care referrals. WIC offers certification, benefit issuance, breastfeeding support, and nutrition education virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information about the WIC Program or to apply, go to dhhr.wv.gov/WIC.