BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana WIC participants will need to pick up a new electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card at their local WIC clinic before a statewide technology upgrade takes effect Aug. 1.
The Louisiana Department of Health is replacing its current chip-based WIC cards with new online-enabled cards that allow benefits to be loaded remotely. Officials say the upgrade will make the program more convenient by reducing the number of times many participants must visit a clinic.
"We'll be able to load benefits remotely onto the new WIC card," said Leslie Lewis, nutrition operations manager for the Louisiana WIC program. "It will eliminate the number of times participants have to come physically into the clinic."
The new cards have been distributed during WIC appointments since June. Participants who have appointments in June or July will receive both their current card and the new one. The current card remains active through July 31, while the new card can be used beginning Aug. 1.
Recipients must pick up the new card in person. Cards will not be mailed.
Before using the new card, participants must activate it by setting a PIN. That can be done by calling the number printed on the card or through the MyWIC app.
The technology upgrade moves Louisiana from an offline system, which requires benefits to be loaded onto a card during an in-person clinic visit, to an online system that allows benefits to be added remotely. Officials say the change has been years in the making and follows similar rollouts in Texas and New Mexico.
While the new system offers greater convenience, WIC benefits remain state-specific. Louisiana-issued WIC cards can only be used at authorized retailers within Louisiana.
Participants with questions can contact their local WIC clinic, visit LouisianaWIC.org, or call the Louisiana WIC helpline at 1-800-251-BABY.
Originally published on ktbs.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.
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