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TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA - The Cherokee Nation Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC) is announcing new guidelines for determining income eligibility for WIC benefits.

WIC provides nutrition education and vouchers for supplemental foods to infants, children under 5 years of age, and pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women.

"Foods include everything from milk, cheese, cereal, and eggs to formula and infant cereal for women and children," said Pamella Wedding, nutrition education coordinator for Cherokee Nation WIC.

To be eligible for the program, individuals must meet financial income requirements, residency requirements, have proper identification and be at nutritional risk.

In order to meet the income standards, applicants must earn an amount equal to or less than the figures listed below. The income amounts are listed according to family size. For example, a pregnant woman would be a family of two plus any additional household members living within the residence. All members of a household should be included when determining family size.

Family Size 1 Income: Annual $17,224 Monthly $1,436 Weekly $332 Family Size 2 Income: Annual $23,107 Monthly $1,926 Weekly $445 Family Size 3 Income: Annual $28,990 Monthly $2,416 Weekly $558 Family Size 4 Income: Annual $34,873 Monthly $2,907 Weekly $671 Family Size 5 Income: Annual $40,756 Monthly $3,397 Weekly $784 Family Size 6 Income: Annual $46,639 Monthly $3,887 Weekly $897 Family Size 7 Income: Annual $52,522 Monthly $4,377 Weekly $1,011 Family Size 8 Income: Annual $58,405 Monthly $4,868 Weekly $1,124

For each additional family member, add $5,883 to total annual income, $491 to monthly income and $114 to weekly income. The revised standards took effect July 1.

Annual WIC income guidelines were obtained by multiplying the annual federal poverty income guidelines by 1.85 and rounding the results upward to the nearest dollar.

Persons currently enrolled in the Food Distribution Program, Food Stamp Program, Medicaid/SoonerCare or TANF are automatically income eligible for WIC.

"We have about 6500 people participating in the WIC program," Wedding said. "Statistics show that women who partake in the WIC program have better pregnancy outcomes and anemia rates of children on the WIC program are lower than those who do not participate in the program."

To find out about the WIC Clinic in your area, call 800-256-0671 (Ext.2589) or 918-456-0671 (Ext.2589).

Related Cherokee Nation contact information:

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org