The Rock Island County WIC program will transition from paper checks to electronic benefit transfer, or EBT, cards on Monday, Aug. 31 to make the program easier for clients and vendors.
All Rock Island County WIC clinics will be closed from Wednesday-Friday this week, Aug. 26-28, as staff members prepare for this transition.
The clinics will reopen at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 31 for a limited number of clients. Because of COVID-19, WIC clients are not coming into the clinics. Our drive-up system will continue until Sept. 30 in both Rock Island and Moline. Rock Island clients are asked to call 309-794-7070 to start the appointment over the phone. Moline clients should call 563-327-2079. Because of COVID-19, WIC services remain suspended in East Moline until further notice, but East Moline clients can access services in Moline.
“We might have to ask you to come back another day as we implement this completely new and exciting system,” said Janet Hill, chief operating officer at the Rock Island County Health Department. “We apologize for the inconvenience, but we’re sure our clients will love the ease of the new card.”
If clients have checks now with benefits after Aug. 31, we are not able to exchange paper checks for the new EBT card. You will get the card on your next clinic visit.
Each household will be issued one Illinois WIC EBT card, also called I-WIC, with all of the family’s food benefits. This will eliminate keeping track of multiple checks for different family members. Clients will be able to check their WIC benefits on a smartphone app, called BNFT. The client’s benefit balance also will be printed on the store receipt. All clients will be educated on how to use their new card and check benefits at their next clinic visit.
WIC is the supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children. WIC helps families learn about healthy nutrition and supports breastfeeding mothers. WIC supplies extra food for women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or postpartum; infants; and children up to age 5.
To learn more about WIC, call the Rock Island County Health Department at 309-794-7070. The Rock Island clinic offers both walk-in hours of 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. and appointments Monday- Friday. The Moline clinic offers appointments from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Monday-Friday. Moline also offers late appointments the first Wednesday of the month, restarting in October. The last appointment is 5:30 p.m. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
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