Why Do WIC Participants Fail to Pick Up Their Checks? An Urban Study in the Wake of Welfare Reform

Objectives: This study explored whether work or immigration concerns affect women’s participation in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

Methods: The sample included women who had withdrawn from the WIC program and current WIC clients from 1 center in New York City. Logistic regression analyses were used to predict noncollection of checks; demographic characteristics, program participation, and problems with the WIC program were independent variables.

Results: Strong predictors of noncollection of checks were job conflicts, transportation or illness problems, and WIC receipt by the woman herself (rather than by her children).

Conclusions: Employment conflicts were related to failure to pick up WIC checks; immigration concerns were not. As a means of enhancing WIC participation, flexibility is recommended in terms of center hours, locations, and staffing and program check distribution policies.