Virginia – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps, is a federal program that provides financial assistance to eligible individuals and families to help them afford healthy and nutritious food needed to stay healthy. The program is administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and it is available in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
Millions of Americans find SNAP benefits to be very helpful, but this has become even more important in recent months as prices on almost everything have gone up due to the highest inflation in decades. To additionally help those in need, most of the states provided additional emergency SNAP benefits for eligible residents in those states. As of December 2022, residents in more than 31 states will get their additional SNAP benefits after the USDA’s monthly approval.
Earlier this week, the state of Virginia announced that emergency SNAP benefits will be extended through December for eligible households in an effort to additionally help them overcome the current situation. Those eligible will automatically get the funds onto their EBT cards on Friday, Dec. 16, the Virginia Department of Social Services confirmed.
The amount of SNAP benefits that everyone receives is determined by the number of household members. A single-member household may receive a maximum amount of $281, a two-member household $516, a three-member household $740, a four-member household $939, a five-member household $1,116, a six-member household $1,339, a seven-member household $1,480, and an eight-member household $1,691. Nine and more member households will receive $211 for each additional member.
The state of Virginia has been providing emergency SNAP benefits to its residents for more than two years, and the additional benefits are funded with federal money. As usual, every state has to apply for the additional SNAP benefits every month and wait for approval.
To be eligible for SNAP benefits, individuals must meet certain income and resource guidelines, as well as other requirements. Generally, to qualify for SNAP, a household’s income and resources must be at or below certain levels. The size of the household determines these amounts, and the federal government changes them every year.
More details about SNAP benefits can be found on USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service website. There are special SNAP rules for households with elderly or disabled members.
Eligible Virginians are encouraged to apply for SNAP benefits on this link.
