Virginia follows 17 states in ending emergency SNAP allotments post-COVID

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households will receive the final issuance of emergency allotment benefits in February.

According to the Virginia Department of Social Services, in accordance with requirements of the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2023, the department is authorized to end the temporary federal program originally established in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

The last issuance of emergency benefits will be loaded onto SNAP customers’ Electronic Benefits Transfer cards on Thursday, February 16. The benefits were available in March 2020 through the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (2020), and states were required to request monthly waivers to issue benefits. Virginia has issued more than $2.1 billion in emergency allotments and raised the monthly issuance to the maximum allowable amount for more than 900,000 Virginians. Emergency allotments have already ended in 17 states.

On March 1, 2023, households will permanently return to pre-pandemic allowances and receive regular SNAP benefit amounts on the 1^st, 4^th or 7^th of each month. Letters have been mailed to households notifying them of the end of emergency allotments.

SNAP households with questions may contact the temporary information line at 1-855-635-4370, Mondays-Fridays, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Households may apply for SNAP assistance online.