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Virginia

These resources – like the public health crisis itself – are constantly evolving and are only current as to the date of publication. This page was last updated on September 9, 2020.

For more up-to-date information on the relief programs available in Virginia, we recommend that you visit the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Virginia portal, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce's State Resources list or the USDA's COVID-19 Waivers & Flexibilities for Virginia.

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Description of Program and Relief

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”) – Emergency Allotments, Automatic Extension of Certification Periods, Online Purchasing

Virginia’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”) is a pre-existing program that allows low income households to purchase food from authorized retailers. A SNAP account is established for participants and automatic deposits are made into the account each month. To access the account, participants receive a Virginia Electronic Benefits Transfer (“EBT”) card, which can be used like cash to purchase eligible food items.

In response to COVID-19, emergency benefits will be allotted to provide households with the maximum allotment according to the chart here. Emergency benefits have been automatically loaded to recipients’ accounts each month since March and will continue to be automatically loaded to recipients’ accounts until further notice. Additionally, certification periods ending between March 2020 and June 2020 will have services automatically extended for six months.

Beginning on May 29, 2020, Virginians who receive SNAP benefits will be able to use the Amazon and Walmart online platforms to pay for their groceries and have them delivered after the United States Department of Agriculture approved Virginia to participate in the online purchasing pilot program. SNAP customers will use their secure Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) to make their purchases. SNAP benefits cannot be used to pay for fees of any type, such as delivery, service, or convenience fees.

Government or Lead Agency

Office of the Virginia Governor

Virginia Department of Social Services

Dates Available

Ongoing

Eligibility Requirements/Restrictions

Eligibility for SNAP is based on income, and income limits can be found here:

https://www.dss.virginia.gov/files/division/bp/fs/intro_page/income_limits/Income_Chart.pdf.

To check eligibility and apply for the program, please visit Virginia’s CommonHelp portal here:

https://www.commonhelp.virginia.gov/.

Application Deadlines (If Applicable)

N/A

Contact for More Information

Office of the Governor: Alena Yarmosky, Alena.Yarmosky@governor.virginia.gov

Virginia Department of Social Services: Cletisha Lovelace, Cletisha.Lovelace@dss.virginia.gov

List of Additional Information

For more information, please visit:

https://www.dss.virginia.gov/benefit/snap.cgi

For more information on the various waivers and extensions, please click here.

For more information on the online purchasing pilot program, please click here.


© 2021 Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. This does not constitute legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. In some jurisdictions, this publication may be considered attorney advertising. Past representations are no guarantee of future outcomes.

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