Colorado WIC: How to Apply, Approved Foods and eWIC

What Colorado WIC offers and who runs it

WIC is a federal nutrition program overseen by USDA's Food and Nutrition Administration, formerly the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), and run in each state by a state agency. In Colorado, that agency is the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), and local WIC clinics serve families. The official site is coloradowic.gov.

According to Colorado WIC, the program is free for families who qualify and offers:

Healthy foods, loaded onto an eWIC card
Nutrition education, including shopping tips and planning meals on a budget
Breastfeeding support, including breast pumps, peer counselors and support groups
Referrals to low-cost health and dental care, immunizations, child care, housing and other services

When we checked in October 2026, the clinic finder listed 101 locations, searchable by ZIP code or county. The state says you can use any clinic in Colorado that works for you.

Who qualifies for WIC in Colorado

To qualify for Colorado WIC, you must live in Colorado and be:

Pregnant
Breastfeeding a baby under 1 year old
A new mom who had a baby or was pregnant in the past 6 months
A baby, or a child younger than 5

Dads, grandparents, foster parents and other caregivers can apply for a child under 5 in their care. You also need to meet the income rules below, and at the appointment WIC staff measure, weigh and check the iron level of each person applying.

The state program says you do not have to be a U.S. citizen to be eligible, and that WIC does not ask for or keep information about visa status or citizenship. Federal public charge rules changed on September 18, 2026. Our guide to applying for WIC explains the change; an immigration legal service can advise on your situation.

Colorado WIC income limits for 2026-2027

Colorado's income table runs from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027. It uses gross income, what you earn before taxes and other deductions. Yearly limits include:

Household of 2: $40,034 a year ($3,337 a month)
Household of 3: $50,542 a year ($4,212 a month)
Household of 4: $61,050 a year ($5,088 a month)
Household of 5: $71,558 a year ($5,964 a month)
Each additional person: add $10,508 a year ($876 a month)

If you are pregnant, the table says to count yourself as two. Families on Health First Colorado (Colorado's Medicaid program), SNAP, TANF or the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) are automatically income eligible. If your income is slightly over the limit, the state suggests calling a clinic to talk it through.

How to apply for WIC in Colorado

The state offers two ways to apply:

Call or visit a clinic. The Find a WIC Clinic page lists each clinic's phone number and hours, so you can schedule an appointment.
Use the online referral form. Colorado's online referral form asks WIC to contact you. The state says a staff member will reach out within 10 days to see whether you might qualify and set up an appointment.

For the first appointment, the state lists each person who is enrolling, ID for yourself and each child under 5, proof of your current address, and proof of income such as a paycheck, tax return or letter from your employer. When you book, staff can tell you exactly which documents to bring. If you qualify, you receive a Colorado WIC card. For the steps that apply in every state, see how to apply for WIC.

Phone numbers and contacts

There is no single statewide number for applications. The state's contact page and shopping pages listed these in October 2026:

Your local WIC clinic: for eligibility, appointments, a lost card and questions about your benefits. Numbers are in the clinic finder.
eWIC customer service, 1-844-234-4950: the toll-free number on the back of the card, for your balance, PIN changes and a locked PIN.
State WIC office, 303-692-2400: for official state WIC business.
Food Resource Hotline, 1-855-855-4626: for other food help in your community. Spanish is spoken.

Use numbers from the official coloradowic.gov pages or the back of your card. WIC is free, and you should not give your PIN to anyone who calls, texts or messages you.

The WIC Colorado food list and the WICShopper app

Colorado's WIC Foods page says food packages may include fresh, frozen or canned fruits and vegetables; 100% juice; whole grains such as whole wheat bread, tortillas, brown rice, oats and quinoa; hot and cold cereal; milk, cheese and yogurt; tofu and soy milk; eggs, beans, canned fish and peanut butter or other nut and seed butters; and infant foods and formula.

The exact brands and sizes are in the Colorado WIC Food List and Shopping Guide. In October 2026 the posted version was dated September 1, 2026, in English, Spanish, Amharic, Arabic, Dari, French and Nepali, and the same page had a searchable approved product table. A new list took effect on March 1, 2026 and has been updated since. It added cereals, select sunflower seed and almond butters, and select pea-based and oat milk blends.

Colorado also points families to the WICShopper app. You can register your eWIC card, see your benefits, scan a barcode to check an item, view your last three months of purchases and use the I Couldn't Buy This button to report an approved item that would not ring up. For how cereal rules work, see our WIC approved cereal guide.

Using your eWIC card in Colorado

Your eWIC card works like a debit card at Colorado WIC-approved stores, and one card covers the whole family. The state's shopping tips include:

Know your benefits before you go, and watch the brands, sizes and fat levels of milk and yogurt in your package.
Tell the cashier you are using eWIC, and ask whether to separate WIC items.
Use coupons on WIC foods, pay with your eWIC card first, then pay for the rest another way.
If an item does not ring up, skip it, swap it or pay another way; WIC cannot pay you back later. Keep the receipt, photograph the package and its barcode, and report it in WICShopper or to your clinic.

You need a four-digit PIN. Four wrong tries lock the card. You can set a new PIN at 1-844-234-4950 or ebtEDGE.com and shop after it unlocks at midnight, or call your clinic, which can unlock it right away. If you lose your card, call your clinic, which will deactivate it and set up a time to give you a new one; you can also change your PIN through the automated line so no one else can use the card.

When benefits expire in Colorado

Colorado issues WIC benefits by the month, and each month's benefits are good only in that month. Unused benefits expire at midnight on the last day of the month and cannot be replaced. Benefits are usually issued three months at a time, so you may see future months in WICShopper, but you can use only the current month's.

You can see your balance in WICShopper, at 1-844-234-4950 or ebtEDGE.com, on the Family Food Benefits List from your clinic, or on your last receipt. Our guide on how to check your WIC balance explains what the balance shows and how long WIC lasts. In Colorado, children can stay on WIC until they turn 5 if they keep qualifying.

Where WIC Companion fits

WIC Companion is an independent planning tool from Auto Secure Login, a Colorado company. It is not a government app, is not affiliated with or endorsed by CDPHE, USDA or any WIC agency, and it does not replace WICShopper or your clinic.

Colorado is one of three states it covers, with California and New York. You choose Colorado and the categories you have left, and it builds a shopping list from Colorado's own public approved-product data. That data is loaded by hand, so it is current to the last load, not to today. It cannot see your eWIC card or balance, and you should never type a card number or PIN into it.

Frequently asked questions

How do I apply for Colorado WIC?

Call or visit a local clinic listed in the state's clinic finder, or send the online referral form; the state says staff will contact you within 10 days. Bring ID, proof of address and proof of income to your appointment.

What is the income limit for WIC in Colorado?

From July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, a household of four qualifies with gross income up to $61,050 a year. Families on Health First Colorado, SNAP, TANF or FDPIR are automatically income eligible.

Do you have to be a U.S. citizen to get WIC in Colorado?

No. The state program says you do not have to be a U.S. citizen to be eligible. You must live in Colorado and meet the category, income and nutrition rules.

What app does Colorado WIC use?

The state points families to WICShopper, where you can see your benefits, scan items, check purchase history and report items you could not buy.

What is the WIC Colorado phone number?

Call your local clinic for applications and appointments. For your eWIC balance or PIN, call 1-844-234-4950, the number on the back of the card. The state WIC office number is 303-692-2400.

When do WIC benefits reload in Colorado?

Benefits are monthly. Each month's benefits can be used only in that month and expire at midnight on its last day. They are usually issued three months at a time, so check WICShopper or your receipt for what is available now.

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Colorado WIC: Who Qualifies, How to Apply and How to Shop