Tennessee WIC Income Limits 2026-27: Full Chart

For the full national picture, see our WIC income limits page; for what WIC provides, see the WIC program guide. This guide is about Tennessee.

Tennessee WIC Income Eligibility Criteria for 2026-2027

Tennessee's WIC line for a family of four is $5,088 a month. TDH's table runs to 16 people; sizes 1 to 10 are below.

Source: Tennessee Department of Health, WIC: Income Guidelines (opens in a new tab), "WIC Income Eligibility Criteria for 2026-2027," checked November 10, 2026. Sizes 11 to 16 are on the TDH page.

TDH spells out the test: a participant's household gross income must be equal to or less than 185% of the Federal Poverty Level, and eligibility is "uniform statewide." According to USDA's Federal Register notice (opens in a new tab), each figure is the 2026 HHS poverty guideline multiplied by 1.85 and rounded up. Tennessee follows the federal dates exactly: July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.

Who makes the call: TDH says WIC eligibility is determined by a Public Health Office Assistant (PHOA) or clerk in the local health department.

The "Standard Deduction" Footnote, Explained

Tennessee's chart carries an unusual note: "Do not allow hardship deductions from the above income poverty guidelines. A standard deduction has already been included in all of the income levels shown."

It reads like an instruction to clinic staff, and the practical meaning for families is simple: compare your gross income to the chart as is. Don't subtract rent, child care, medical bills or other hardships first, the way you might for SNAP. WIC has no deductions on the family's side. The 185% line is the whole allowance.

That makes the Tennessee math easy:

• Paid weekly? Compare one gross check to the weekly column.
• Paid every two weeks? Use the bi-weekly column.
• Paid on the 1st and 15th? Use twice monthly.
• Several earners or income types? Add them up on one basis, usually monthly or annual.

Who Counts in a Tennessee WIC Household

WIC counts people who live together and share income and expenses, related or not. The TDH page doesn't mention pregnancy counting, but federal rule 7 CFR 246.7(d)(2)(vii) (opens in a new tab) applies everywhere: a pregnant woman over the line is treated as income-eligible if counting each fetus would put her under it.

Teen parents are a common question. A 17-year-old mom who lives with her parents and shares their household is usually counted in their economic unit, so the parents' income counts and so do all the people in the home. That bigger household also means a bigger line. If the teen and her baby live separately and pay their own way, they're their own unit. Tell the health department how the home actually works; the clerk makes the call.

School-age children don't get WIC food, but they count toward household size. Only pregnant women, breastfeeding women (until the baby's first birthday), postpartum women (up to 6 months), infants and children under 5 receive benefits.

A Tennessee Example: Over the WIC Chart, In Through TennCare

For example, a single mother in Memphis who's 4 months pregnant and has a 3-year-old. Specifically, she works in medical billing and grosses $2,350 on the 1st and 15th of each month. Neither she nor her child is on TennCare or SNAP.

On the WIC chart, she's $244 per check over. But TennCare covers pregnant women up to 250% of poverty, a limit Tennessee raised from 195% on January 1, 2024, according to TennCare's notice summarized on our Tennessee Medicaid page. At $4,700 a month, she's well under $5,692. Once she's on TennCare, she's adjunctively eligible for WIC, and federal rule 7 CFR 246.7(d)(2)(vi) (opens in a new tab) extends that to her 3-year-old too, because a pregnant woman in the family has Medicaid.

Tennessee's pregnancy Medicaid line is one of the most generous in this series. That makes TennCare the first call for almost any pregnant Tennessean who's over the WIC chart.

TennCare, SNAP and Families First

Tennessee's WIC page has a short adjunctive eligibility section: applicants are "automatically income-eligible for WIC if they show proof of participation in" these programs.

CoverKids isn't on the list. Our Tennessee Medicaid page shows CoverKids, Tennessee's CHIP program, uses a 250% line. TDH's adjunctive list names TennCare, not CoverKids, so a child with only CoverKids likely needs to qualify on the chart. Ask the clinic if you're unsure.

How to Apply for WIC in Tennessee

In Tennessee, WIC runs through the county health departments. TDH says services are provided in 126 county health departments, stand-alone clinics and hospital sites. There are 3 ways to get started:

1. Call your local county health department. The "WIC Clinics" section of the TDH WIC page (opens in a new tab) lets you search by county, city or clinic name.
2. Call 1-800-DIAL-WIC (1-800-342-5942) for general questions or to begin the application process.
3. In Shelby County, call (901) 222-9980 or email the Shelby County call center if you can't reach your clinic.

Already on SNAP? Bring the approval notice; our Tennessee food stamps guide explains that program if you haven't applied. Before you call, TDH suggests USDA's WIC PreScreening Tool to see whether you may be eligible, noting that it's "not an application for WIC benefits." Bring proof of identity, Tennessee residency and income (or TennCare, SNAP or Families First participation) to the appointment, along with the infants and children applying.

The TNWIC card. Tennessee issues WIC benefits to an electronic account that families use with a TNWIC card and PIN. TNWIC is available in all 95 counties, and TDH says more than 800 grocers and pharmacies accept WIC benefits; pharmacies take TNWIC only for specialized infant formulas and WIC-eligible nutritionals. Keep your PIN private.

Moving in or out of Tennessee. WIC certification carries across state lines. If you're leaving Tennessee mid-certification, call 1-800-DIAL-WIC and ask for a Verification of Certification (VOC), which TDH says that line handles. The new state uses it to continue your benefits without starting over. Families moving into Tennessee should bring their VOC from the old state to the county health department, along with proof of a Tennessee address.

The WICShopper app. Install it, select Tennessee and register the 16-digit number from your TNWIC card. You can scan products to see if they're WIC-eligible and check your remaining balance; TDH says the balance shows within 24 hours of loading the card. The app also has a Find a WIC Clinic option.

Food packages. TDH notes that children's and women's packages changed on October 1, 2025, and that some yogurt products were no longer approved as of April 20, 2026, so check the app's benefit list rather than an older printed guide. The fruit-and-vegetable dollar amount is set by USDA each fiscal year; fiscal 2027's figures are in WIC Policy Memorandum #2026-6 (opens in a new tab). In selected counties, WIC families also get $5 Farmers' Market Nutrition Program vouchers in July and August for Tennessee-grown produce.

Grantsights Analysis: Tennessee's WIC Surge

According to USDA's WIC data tables, Tennessee averaged 156,963 participants a month in FY2025, the 13th-largest state caseload. Grantsights analysis of USDA's participation and benefit-per-person tables for FY2021 through FY2025 shows the fastest growth of any state in this series:

Tennessee added nearly 45,000 participants a month in four years, almost four times the national growth rate, and 13.7% in the last year alone. The average monthly food benefit per participant rose from $26.40 in FY2021 to $63.69, just $1.20 below the national figure. By Grantsights' calculation (participants times average benefit times 12), Tennessee WIC families redeemed about $120 million in food in FY2025.

The TDH page hasn't caught up: it still says the program "serves about 111,000 eligible participants each month," which matches USDA's FY2021 level, not FY2025's.

What the Tennessee Department of Health Doesn't Tell You

Grantsights read the TDH WIC page against USDA's notice and the federal rules. Five things worth knowing:

1. There's a typo in the size-14 row. TDH lists $13,485 a month for 14 people. USDA's 2026-27 table, and the annual figure on the same TDH row ($166,130), work out to $13,845. If you're in a 14-person household, use $13,845.
2. The unborn baby isn't mentioned. Federal rules count each fetus.
3. CoverKids isn't on the adjunctive list. Only TennCare, SNAP and Families First are named.
4. The participant count is out of date. USDA reports nearly 157,000 a month, not 111,000.
5. Unemployment changes the answer. If a parent lost a job this year, 7 CFR 246.7(d)(2)(i) lets the county clerk use the reduced income since the layoff.

Common Mistakes, Red Flags and Scams in Tennessee

A common mistake is subtracting bills before comparing income to the chart. Tennessee's footnote is explicit: no hardship deductions. Use gross pay.

More Tennessee missteps:

• Not applying for TennCare during pregnancy. Its 250% line, shown on our Tennessee Medicaid income limits page, is far above WIC's 185%, and many families underestimate how much room that gives them.
• Using a 2023 shopping guide. Packages changed in October 2025; trust the WICShopper app's benefit list.
• Waiting on hold at the state number to book a visit. The county health department schedules WIC appointments, so dial it first.
• Letting someone else hold your TNWIC card and PIN. Anyone with both can spend the month's benefits.

Scam warning: Tennessee WIC is free at every county health department. No one legitimate charges to apply, and no one from WIC will text you for your TNWIC card number or PIN. A site promising "WIC grants" for a fee is a red flag; the FTC's government grant scams page (opens in a new tab) shows how these pitches work. Report concerns to 1-800-DIAL-WIC.

If WIC doesn't fit your family, Grantsights' free eligibility checker can point to other official programs. It doesn't decide eligibility or pay benefits.

FAQ: Tennessee WIC Income Limits

What is the WIC income limit in Tennessee for 2026-27?

TDH's criteria for July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 allow gross income up to $61,050 a year or $5,088 a month for a family of four, and $10,508 more per year for each extra person.

Does TennCare qualify me for WIC?

Yes, for income. TennCare, SNAP and Families First are on Tennessee WIC's adjunctive eligibility list. Bring proof.

What is 1-800-DIAL-WIC?

Tennessee's WIC line, 1-800-342-5942, for general questions, concerns, Verification of Certification requests and starting an application.

How do I apply for WIC in Tennessee?

Call your county health department or 1-800-DIAL-WIC. In Shelby County, call (901) 222-9980.

Does an unborn baby count for Tennessee WIC?

Yes. Under federal rules, each expected baby counts when that helps a pregnant woman qualify.

What card does Tennessee WIC use?

The TNWIC card, used with a PIN. Register it in the WICShopper app to check your balance.

Sources

1. Tennessee Department of Health, WIC (opens in a new tab): Income Guidelines (WIC Income Eligibility Criteria for 2026-2027), Adjunctive Eligibility, WIC Clinics and TNWIC sections, checked November 10, 2026.
2. USDA, WIC Income Eligibility Guidelines 2026-2027 (opens in a new tab), used to check sizes 9 to 16.
3. Federal Register, Notice of 2026/2027 WIC income eligibility guidelines (opens in a new tab), April 29, 2026.
4. eCFR, 7 CFR 246.7 (opens in a new tab), WIC certification rules.
5. USDA, WIC data tables (opens in a new tab), Tennessee participation and average monthly benefit, FY2021 to FY2025, data as of October 9, 2026.
6. USDA, WIC Policy Memorandum #2026-6 (opens in a new tab), FY2027 fruit and vegetable amounts.
7. Federal Trade Commission, Government grant scams (opens in a new tab).