Connecticut State Department of Public Health

Open Enrollment 2024

How Do I Apply to Accept WIC Benefits?

Open Enrollment for new applicant vendors is January 1, 2024 through February 1, 2024. If you are currently SNAP authorized and have been open continuously for one full calendar year prior to application you are eligible to apply for WIC authorization.  Please note: for stores who require a stand beside machine (similar to the SNAP stand beside machine), there is a $50 set up fee per machine and a $75 fee per month, per machine.

Apply to become authorized to accept WIC benefits by completing an online application. You have the month of January to complete and submit the online application to the Connecticut WIC Program. Applications must be submitted no later than February 1, 2024. Follow the steps below to complete the online application process for WIC authorization.

A few things before you proceed:

Please be aware of these Common Errors in the WIC application process:

  • Read the Vendor Portal User Guide.  Most of the questions you will have during this part of the process will be answered in the user guide.  Refer to it as needed throughout the process. 
  • Use only a laptop or PC only – DO NOT use a tablet or phone.
  • Failing to send your valid driver’s license, or failing to send it in a timely manner, after registering for a portal account will delay your account approval and/or will prevent you from renewing your WIC authorization.
  • The first time that you log in to the vendor portal please click the GO button on the Application screen (with New Vendor-New Application as the Application Type) before moving on to other screens. 
  • After the first time you’ve logged into the portal and created your application, please click the Make Active button every time you log in to the vendor portal.  This will prevent you from creating duplicate vendor records and prevent you from having to redo your application. 
  • On the Store Details screen, when you select the “Language you wish to be trained in” this is also the language that you’ll be monitored in.  For example, if you are an English speaker but your store personnel are Spanish speakers you must select English as your training language but email dph.ptwic@ct.gov to indicate that you want to be monitored in Spanish and  tell the trainer at the training that you want to be monitored in Spanish. 
  • Only upload the required documents on the Uploaded Documents screen on the day that you are ready to submit the application
  • After completing all the screens (usually finishing with the Uploaded Documents screen) please return to the Application screen and click on the Submit button.  If you don’t do this step your application will not be submitted. 

For assistance with the online application please contact Maria Reyes (860.509.7488) maria.reyes@ct.gov.

 

1. Register for a Vendor Portal Account

Before you start your application:

Sign in or register for a Vendor Portal account in order to obtain access to the online application.

A copy of the user’s driver’s license must be emailed to dph.ptwic@ct.gov in order to be approved.

You must have a valid email address that you regularly check. The Connecticut WIC Program will send you a confirmation email when your account has been approved.  All communications throughout the application process will be emailed.  

After 24 hours from the receipt of the approved email, return back to this page or continue through the link in the email to begin the application.  

 

2. Complete Online Application

You have from January 1 to February 1 to complete and submit the online application to the Connecticut WIC Program.  If you’re busy or short on time you can start the application, save it and return later to complete it.

Helpful Tip: Save time by printing and completing the Vendor Portal Worksheet

 

For assistance with the application process please contact Maria Reyes (860.509.7488) maria.reyes@ct.gov

 

3. Submit Supporting Documentation
Your WIC application is not complete until you submit the required supporting documents, based on your specific store demographics.
  • Owner Information Form:  If the signature on this form is not the owner, partner, member or franchisee, then include with the Owner Information Form a copy of a document that authorizes the representative to sign and contract for on behalf of this business.
  • State Issued Driver’s License or picture identification or federal issued identification-Owner
  • State Issued Driver’s License or picture identification or federal issued identification-Store Manager (required if you have a store manager who is not the owner and is listed in the application)
  • OS-114 Sales and Tax Use Summary forms
  • Bill of Sale: Upon request of the WIC program

Ready to start? Log in with your user name and password to Complete the Online Application

 

4. Application Status

After the application is submitted, the Connecticut WIC Program will process the application and contact you if any further information is needed. For assistance with the application process please contact Maria Reyes (860.509.7488) maria.reyes@ct.gov

If the application is approved, the Connecticut WIC Program will send an email to all emails listed as Store Contacts in your online application.  The email will contain information about Vendor Training.  Upon receipt of this email, you have forty-eight hours to re-enter the vendor portal and select the training class that you will attend.

You must attend a training class to complete your authorization process.  The training class will be conducted via Microsoft TEAMS.  Instructions regarding this type of training will be provided by the Connecticut WIC Program.  If the person who will attend this virtual training is someone other than the owner of the store, a signed training authorization letter that authorizes that person to be trained on their behalf by the WIC Program must be uploaded to the vendor record after the training class along with the training certificate received during the training class.  The owner will receive a blank training certificate, training authorization letter, and the training presentation via email the day before the training class.  Whomever attends the training class will be responsible for training the owner and all other employees handling WIC transactions.