From 2018 to 2022, there was a roughly 25% decline in participation in Pennsylvania’s WIC program, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. WIC helps low income pregnant and breastfeeding parents and children under age five afford food.
A report from Thriving PA looked into the barriers that are keeping people from participating and staying in this program. One of the main issues was the requirement that benefits be reloaded in person, rather than through an online system. There were also complaints about the in-store experience for those families using WIC.