SECTION 31.25. Participant Certification Periods

(a) An applicant who has been determined eligible shall be enrolled and certified to receive WIC Program benefits as specified in this section. The certification period shall begin on the date the applicant is determined eligible.

(b) A pregnant woman shall be certified to receive one set of food instruments each month for the duration of her pregnancy and is eligible to receive one set of food instruments between delivery of the baby and six weeks postpartum. The certification expiration date shall be set at six weeks after her expected delivery date.

(c) A postpartum woman who is not breastfeeding shall be certified to receive one set of food instruments each month until she is six months postpartum. The certification expiration date shall be set for the day the woman is six months postpartum.

(d) A breastfeeding woman shall be certified to receive one set of food instruments each month for up to one year. The certification expiration date shall be set to the last day of the month in which her infant turns one year old or she ceases breastfeeding, whichever occurs first.

(e) A child one to five years of age shall be certified to receive one set of food instruments each month for a six-month period. The certification expiration date shall be set for the last day of the sixth month. For a child turning age five, the certification expiration date shall be set for the last day of the month the child turns age five.

(f) An infant six months of age or older at the time of initial enrollment shall be certified to receive one set of food instruments each month for a six-month period. The certification expiration date shall be set for the last day of the sixth month.

(g) An infant younger than six months of age at the time of initial enrollment shall be certified to receive one set of food instruments each month until the infant's first birthday. The certification expiration date shall be set for the day of the infant's first birthday.

Source Note: The provisions of this §31.25 adopted to be effective August 5, 2001, 26 TexReg 5642; amended to be effective June 4, 2006, 31 TexReg 4428; amended to be effective October 1, 2009, 34 TexReg 6120