Eric: We’d like to think after training everything always goes smoothly for both the vendors and customers, but there are some issues that come up frequently that you need to be aware of as a cashier.

Vanessa: This sounds like it would be very helpful.

Eric: One of the most common mistakes customers may make is selecting the wrong foods. The biggest culprits are the refrigerated juice and milk. With the refrigerated juice, just remember to always make sure it’s the approved 64 oz. container and not the 59 oz. container. When it comes to milk, WIC customers can only purchase the vendors declared store or house Brand of milk in the type and size specified on the food instrument. I have a handy chart here, let’s take a look. Go ahead and click on the ‘Link’ button to take a look.

Vanessa: Okay that seems clear. What other problems do they have?

Eric: Sometimes there’s confusion of what foods are allowed. WIC customers may request an override of non-approved items because they purchased them at another store. Simply explain that the food list does not allow that item, and offer to replace the item with an authorized one from the food list.

And one of our most significant problems is participants forgetting to sign their food instrument. If they don’t sign, it becomes invalid and the Vendor can’t be reimbursed.

Vanessa: But I thought checking for the signature was one of the steps?

Eric: It is, but sometimes we get busy or distracted and both customers and cashiers forget. Just remember, it is your responsibility to make sure that the food instrument is signed before the WIC customer leaves the store.

And one more thing, make sure the name is completely written out and not just initialed. The WIC Program does not accept signatures that are initials only. The signature must have a first name and last name.

Vanessa: Got it, I will double and triple check.

Eric: And once again, if someone has a complaint about our store and how they were treated as a WIC customer, please make sure they talk to one of our managers. Our manager can give them a telephone number to call for complaints.