Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 48 - PUBLIC HEALTH-GENERAL
Part V - Preventive Health Services
Subpart 15 - Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
Chapter 43 - Participant Eligibility
Section V-4305 - Timeframes for Processing Applicants

1. The processing timeframes shall begin when an individual visits the WIC clinic during clinic office hours to make an oral or written request for WIC benefits.

2. Special nutritional risk applicants shall be notified of their eligibility or ineligibility within 10 days of the date of the first request for WIC benefits. LA WIC may provide an extension of the notification period to a maximum of 15 days for the WIC clinics which make written request, including a justification of the need for an extension. LA WIC shall establish criteria for identifying categories of persons at special nutritional risk who require expedited services. At a minimum, however, these categories shall include pregnant women eligible as Priority I WIC participants, and migrant farm workers and their family members who soon plan to leave the jurisdiction of the local agency.

3. All other applicants shall be notified of their eligibility or ineligibility within 20 days of the first date of the request for WIC benefits.

4. The WIC clinic or local agency using a retail purchase system shall issue WIC benefits benefits to the WIC Participant at the same time as notification of certification. The WIC benefits benefits issued should be valid for the current month and shall be redeemable immediately upon receipt by the WIC Participant.