Texas WIC milk question - RESOLVED

[KibbyCat]

Since the new program guidelines have changed the milk quantities to 3 gallons and a quart, I have been losing out on free milk. My son drinks lactaid, and NONE of my local stores sell lactose-free milk in a 1-qt size. I have tried everything I can think of: requesting that the grocery store order/carry 1-qt size of THEIR brand lactose-free milk, trying to get 1-qt size REGULAR milk in place of lactose-free, etc. Nothing works. The smart chip in my card is specially programmed only to read what's on there - no substitutions, and the store employees are powerless to override this info. They used to be able to substitute items at their discretion. I even offered at one store to pay the difference on a half-gallon of lactose-free milk (over what a quart of regular milk would cost), because in the past the store manager had been able to input store coupon codes in order to ring me up for a price difference in certain items. They seemed unwilling to do that, so I ended up leaving without buying anything. Now I am at my wit's end. I always have to buy more milk per month than what I get for free anyway (for my older kids and myself). Should I ask my WIC office to switch my milk to regular so that I don't lose free milk every month, (and then just buy the lactose-free milk as needed) or should I go back to the store managers at my local grocery store and ask them to stock my product? I'm sure I'm not the only one with this problem, but as a budget-minded mom, I hate missing out on free stuff.

UPDATE
I went to my WIC office today to let them know about my issue. Guess nobody had complained about it yet, so they looked it up and told me that I can switch my vouchers to get 4 gallons of milk instead of cheese. Since I always end up buying more milk at the end of the month, and cheese is less expensive than milk, this works out to be a great deal.

 

[bgohre]

Can you ask the WIC people to change the Lactose Free milk to half-gallon sizes? Just explain to them that this is the only way it is sold and see if they can switch it.

 

[KibbyCat]

Can you ask the WIC people to change the Lactose Free milk to half-gallon sizes? Just explain to them that this is the only way it is sold and see if they can switch it.

I can try, but I doubt that they'll be able to. I was just on the website, and it seems that the new product quantities are state-wide. Just because the stores in my area don't sell that size doesn't mean that it's the case in the whole state.

 

[disneymarie]

Have you inquired to the store how they have accomadated this change. I am sure they would not want to lose the sale and must have a conversion. It may cost a $1 or so, due to the extra size on your part, but worth it.

If they carry the 2 qt, then pay the difference, or can you buy one quart of soy milk and use that in his cereal. My dd has not complained about the soy at all.

 

[KibbyCat]

I hadn't thought of soy. That IS considered lactose-free, so I wonder if the register would accept it. I hate that the computers are so picky that if it isn't spelled out right on the card, it doesn't take it. (We once had Wal-Mart tell us that we couldn't get 2% milk, because their registers were set to accept only 1% or fat-free. In reality, the WIC guidelines state 2%, 1% or fat-free. I guess Wal-Mart made its own rules according to the WIC regulations.)

 

[rparmfamily]

If you can't find any stores that stock the product listed on your WIC check/card then I'd let your WIC office know. I'm sure you're not the only one this has happened to, they might know exactly which stores do stock the Lactaid or have you switch to soy.

Also, if it's on your list to get a certain product and the store doesn't allow it, show them the brochure you get from WIC. It is specific in what you can get (like 1% or whatever) and if they still won't comply then take your business elsewhere and let WIC know. I've had that happen with the peanut butter, ours says any brand except organic and in a certain size. They refused to let me have the brand I wanted (even though the shelf had the WIC sticker too!!) because the register beeped. I got a manager who had to over ride it but you can let WIC know if they refuse.

Good luck!

 

[maggiew]

I have no idea if they sell it or not, but have you checked out the gas station type convenience stores? They seem to carry the smaller size items.

Maggie

 

[caitty13]

I know with my WIC I have vouchers that all need to be used at once. I know I had an issue with the bread because it's worded Enriched Whole Wheat and my local store doesn't have that.

Sorry I can't help with the milk, it is silly getting quarts though

 

[jedijill]

I can tell you that the grocery stores have to be very careful when dealing with WIC purchases. If anything and I mean anything strays from what the state says you can have...brand, size, variety, etc...the store loses the money from the Entire WIC transaction...not just that one item.

I worked at a grocery part time last year and had it drilled into us to be super careful with how and what we rang up because of the strictness of the rules and the reimbursement to the store.

Jill in CO

 

[Leajess99]

I would not go to WIC and have it changed to regular milk when the child eligible needs Lactose free milk. The WIC office knows this child needs this and should you change it you may be losing it due to fraud.

I would go back to the stores in question and request that they order in the 1 qt size of the lactose free or go back to WIC and ask them to request the store to carry it.

 

[camlace]

There is a product locator on the lactaid website. I would check there if the quart size is available anywhere near you. If not I would then explain to WIC that the size they are offering you to purchase is not available in your area. Not sure as a individual you can persuade a grocery store to carry a specific size of milk just for you, they purchase items in such large quantities, if no one else buys the quart size they will lose out on lots of money. However WIC may have more influence at a corporate level. But I still think having WIC adjust your allocation might be the easiest way to go if the product is unavailable.

 

[MamaOfive]

In Texas, soy milk and tofu need a prescription from a Dr. on WIC's own form before it will be issued. Lactaid, and Lactose Free do not.
You can not purchase something with WIC and then pay the difference to the store. It is not allowed.
Fortunately now much of Texas now is on a card rather than a voucher program. I can remember many times getting everything on the WIC voucher and then having to put it all back because the store didn't carry that last item. (It was everything on the voucher or nothing.)
The Farmer's market that I've been to charged $10.00 for a watermelon. NO way! The grocery stores sell them for less than $4.00. We're trying a different market tomorrow.