Georgia Wic implementing eWic card

Georgia Department of Public Health announced the Wic (Special Supplement Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) program has been implementing an electronic benefits transfer known as eWic since June and will be completing that implementation in October of 2022. This program is not to be confused with the SNAP (Food Stamp).

           Georgia Wic recipients will begin obtaining their ecard on the following dates:

·      Wave 1: Waycross, Valdosta, and Albany Health Districts on August 22, 2022

·      Wave 2: Columbus, Dublin, Macon, and Augusta Health Districts on September 6, 2022

·      Wave 3: Clayton, LaGrange, Rome, and Dalton Health Districts on September 19, 2022

·      Wave 4: Gainesville, Athens, Gwinnet and DeKalb Health Districts on October 3, 2022

·      Wave 5: Cobb-Douglas, and Fulton

           This eWic card will take the place of the Wic paper vouchers where you can use it to obtain approved food items by WIC at authorized eWic retailers. Those who use Wic will need to have their card on them at the time of purchase. Each of the eWic cards will allow benefits to stay on the card until the benefit period ends which means that the benefits will have an expiration date and not roll over to the next month. The dates you have benefits will be listed on the Wic Shopping List or the last cash register receipt.

           Those receiving benefits who have paper vouchers may continue to use those vouchers until the remaining vouchers are gone. Those receiving the card will obtain that card on their next appointed visit.

           The reasoning behind this transition is the rise in electronic cash register systems or ECR. Previous Wic participants had to have a cashier check their items to the listed items on the voucher before ringing up and totaling. The eWic will allow participants to check out at the ECR registers in local locations where Wic is accepted.

           Listed stores that are certified Conduent retailers are CVS, Food City, Publix, Save A Lot, Food Lion, Kroger, Ingles, Target, Walmart, Winn Dixie, and Food Giant. Conduent ECR systems will be used for any business that wants to use eWic transactions on their ECR registers.

           Using the ECR (Electronic Cash Register) is just like using a debit card. However, depending on the ECR system you could swipe your card at the beginning, middle, or end of initiating the Wic purchase transaction.  Therefore, be aware that every system may not work the exact same.

           If you need further assistance or have more questions you can visit dph.georgi.gov. If you already have your eWic card and need further guidance, assistance or have questions you can contact the WIC Customer Service at 1-844-309-5653, visit www.wicconnect.com, speak to your local WIC agency or download the eWic brochure in English or Spanish on dph.georgia.gov.