Transition to EBT in WIC: Review of Impact and Examination of Participant Redemption Patterns

While 13 WIC state agencies have implemented EBT, there have been no comprehensive assessments aimed at understanding the processes surrounding Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) transition and its impact on various stakeholders, including WIC state agencies, WIC vendors, and WIC participants.

The WIC state agencies transitioning to EBT over the next few years could benefit from the timely dissemination of such information, helping them make informed decisions when planning and implementing EBT.

Altarum conducted this study with funding from the USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) as part of the Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Programs (FANRP) and in partnership with three WIC State Agencies that had fully implemented online EBT by late 2011: Kentucky, Michigan, and Nevada.