The Shadow
RICHMOND, VA (January 26, 2023) – The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) will release the final issuance of emergency allotment benefits to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program<https://www.dss.virginia.gov/benefit/snap.cgi> (SNAP) households in February, in accordance with the requirements of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023<https://appropriations.house.gov/sites/democrats.appropriations.house.gov/files/FY23%20Summary%20of%20Appropriations%20Provisions.pdf>. The new law recently passed by Congress ends VDSS’ authorization to continue issuing benefits through the temporary federal program, originally established in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The last issuance of benefits will be automatically loaded onto SNAP customers’ Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards on Thursday, February 16.
SNAP households began receiving the temporary emergency allotment benefit in March 2020 through the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (2020). Per federal guidelines, states were required to request a monthly waiver to issue these benefits. VDSS submitted this request each month for the duration of the period emergency benefits were available to continue providing additional food benefits to SNAP households. Since March 2020, the Commonwealth has issued more than 2.1 billion dollars in emergency allotments and raised the monthly issuance to the maximum allowable amount for over 900,000 individuals in Virginia. According to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service<https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/changes-2023-benefit-amounts>, emergency allotments have already ended in 17 states.
Households will permanently return to pre-pandemic allowances beginning March 1, 2023, and receive their regular SNAP benefit amounts on their usual day of issuance (on the 1st, 4th, or 7th day of the month). To further awareness of this change, VDSS has mailed letters directly to SNAP households. Additionally, to support Virginians during this transition, VDSS has also created a dedicated webpage<https://dss.virginia.gov/benefit/emergency_allotments.cgi> for more information and resources. Beginning January 28, households may contact the temporary information line at 1-855-635-4370, Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. TTY assistance is available by calling 800-552-7917 or 866-246-9300. SNAP participants can contact their local department of social services<https://www.dss.virginia.gov/localagency/index.cgi> or visit CommonHelp<https://commonhelp.virginia.gov> for questions or account information.
For assistance with applying for food benefits, visit the VDSS SNAP webpage<https://dss.virginia.gov/benefit/snap.cgi>. To access information regarding resources statewide and in your local community, please contact 2-1-1 Virginia<https://www.211virginia.org/consite/index.php> or visit the VDSS food and other nutritional assistance page<https://dss.virginia.gov/benefit/wic.cgi>.
