How to determine if an EWIC item is on the daily hosted state's EWIC file


First,  here is some background on WIC:

 

In the days of paper WIC, eligible items were hosted to the store via batches with a “WIC” flag on the item and could be purchased by a customer based on the  eligible items listed on the check. Also, Some department keys were WIC eligible so if an item didn’t have the WIC flag they could “dead ring” it to the department key, ( such as Dairy ) and the item could be paid by the WIC check.

 

Then came EWIC- The checks were discontinued and an electronic card was issued. The customers are allowed select items and select amounts. That list prints at the beginning of an EWIC transaction. The internal, hosted “WIC flag” on the items is no longer utilized – the store’s POS server is now sent a daily file that is managed by the state. That file contains items that we sell as well as items from other retailers and is based on what the state has allowed. They maintain it. Items could have been missed or not added, such as items labeled as our brand. We can no longer ring to the department key to allow a potential WIC item.  Note: the small “WIC” signs on the items that are on the shelf may not apply to all customers in terms of eligibility.

 

Now on to the  issues:

 

There are two scenarios that occur:

 

  1. EWic is not working at the store – they cannot process any EWic transactions: This issue would come to the Store Systems Team as a high priority ticket

 

  1. A customer cannot purchase a specific item that they believe is authorized: 

Below are the steps to determine if an item is on the states file.

  • If the item is not listed in the report below the following information needs to be

emailed to Compliance, Attention: Sheila Smith: UPC, item description, picture of front and back of packaging

Compliance will research and forward the information on to the state EWIC team to potentially add it to their hosted EWIC file.

 

  • If the item is listed in our report than it is authorized and the customer would have to contact their EWic representative to determine why they were not able to purchase that specific item.

 

 

Here are the instructions to determine if the item is on the daily hosted states EWIC file. The store could research this and reach out to Compliance themselves:


WebOffice Report:

 

Select Reports tab in WebOffice

Select WIC Reports

Select WIC Product Report

Under Report Options Select Single Category and input department the item you are researching is from, ( in this case we are researching Milk Fat Reduced)

Make sure CA is highlighted under Authorities – Click Generate Report, ( bottom right)



The requested report will generate – look for your item by UPC. You can input UPC in the field where the binoculars are at the top of your screen and then click the binoculars – here is the item.