Some Virginians who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for food assistance are entering August unsure what will happen to their assistance.
The new federal spending bill, dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill” by the Trump administration, has broadly affected food stamps benefits eligibility by introducing additional work requirements and restricting folks with certain immigration status from the program. As a result, some might no longer qualify and others might see additional challenges proving that they do.
Although the law technically took effect the moment President Donald Trump signed it on July 4, Virginia SNAP recipients have not yet seen any changes. That’s because it’s up to each state to implement those changes. And it’s unclear when or how Virginia intends to do that.
So far, there has been no communication from Virginia’s Department of Social Services (DSS), which handles the benefits, on what that will look like or when the rollout will begin, according to Majesta-Doré Legnini, a staff attorney focusing on health justice and public benefits at the Legal Aid Justice Center.
“We still don’t know pretty much anything about how Virginia is going to be implementing these changes, because they haven’t publicly announced anything,” said Legnini.
DSS also did not respond to multiple requests for comment from Charlottesville Tomorrow.
The changes, as well as the vacuum of information, have spread concern among the community.
“We’re hearing from community members that they’re concerned. We get questions about the eligibility rules and changes. We’re also hearing from community partners that they’re concerned, and also asking us for like, what is Virginia doing? And unfortunately, right now, the answer is, we’re not sure.”
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What to do if you fear losing SNAP benefits
Are you concerned about your Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits — commonly known as food stamps — due to new federal rules limiting eligibility and enforcing additional work requirements? Here’s what to do and what not to do, according to Majesta-Doré Legnini, a staff attorney focusing on health justice and public benefits at the Legal Aid Justice Center:
- The Legal Aid Justice Center compiled a list of who will be affected by the changes to SNAP requirements here.
- Don’t terminate your benefits. If you already receive SNAP and are worried you might lose them, do not cancel them yourself. It’s the Virginia Department of Social Services (DSS) that would handle any changes. Until you receive a letter from DSS, your benefits remain unchanged. “People are not allowed to lose their benefits without due process,” said Legnini. “That requires a written notice. So if someone sees a reduction or termination and doesn’t get a notice, that’s a red flag.”
- If your benefits are reduced or cut off without a proper legal notice, contact an attorney. The Legal Aid Justice Center offers free legal assistance.
- Subject to new work requirements? If you receive a letter from Virginia DSS asking about your work status, respond by submitting the required documentation.
- Keep your mailing address up to date. It’s crucial that DSS has your current address so you don’t miss important letters about your case.
The delay is likely due to the fact that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service, which is the federal agency that implements SNAP, has not yet provided guidance to states on how to enforce the new law, she said.
In the meantime, it’s likely business as usual, explained Legnini. This means that SNAP benefits for August, which are being distributed in Virginia between August 1 and 4, are likely to roll out as usual, since no one appears to have received written notices saying otherwise, she said.
“Someone cannot lose their benefits without due process, which requires a written notice. And so we’re in this kind of weird, nuanced area, legally where the state is not required to send out a notice to everyone in the SNAP program telling them that the eligibility rules have changed,” Legnini said. “However, they cannot reduce or terminate someone’s benefits without sending that person a notice telling them why those benefits are being reduced or terminated.”
There are quite a few changes to who is eligible for the benefits now — adults ages 18 to 64 are now required to work, raising the upper age limit from 54. Many immigrants — but not all — no longer qualify for food assistance. There are also changes to which households can get help paying their cooling or heating bills, explained Legnini.
In Virginia, more than 9% of households are considered food insecure, meaning they can’t afford enough nutritious food to stay active and healthy, according to Virginia Navigator, a nonprofit organization providing information to elderly, veterans and families. One in 12 Virginians receives SNAP benefits.
Based on the new job requirements enshrined in the federal spending bill alone, about 50,000 Virginians might lose their food assistance, according to a study Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a nonpartisan research and policy institute focusing on policy research and advocacy, published in June.
The average SNAP benefit per household in Virginia is $232, according to Virginia Navigator.
Looking further ahead, states will face additional financial burdens tied to SNAP.
On Oct. 1, 2027, the federal government will reduce its share of administrative expenses associated with the program. Right now, the federal government and the states split the costs equally, but in two years, Virginia and others will have to pay 75% of those costs.
And on Oct. 1, 2028, if states continue to have high error rates — a measure of how well they determine who is eligible for the benefits — those with an error rate above 6% could be on the hook for covering a portion of the actual benefits as well.
Virginia’s current error rate is 11.5%, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s report for fiscal year 2024. That rate includes not only households that received benefits while not meeting requirements, but also those who were eligible but did not receive them.
By the end of 2028, Virginia will be paying extra for both.
Virginia DSS has yet to share any details about its plans.
“It’s very much a ‘wait and see’ situation,” said Legnini. “We’re advising people not to make any assumptions — but to stay alert, stay informed, and reach out if something seems off.”
