Steps to Apply
- Complete screening for potential eligibility
- Complete an online application or submit a written application to your local
department of social services. Local offices also have copies of the written application, which you can ask to be mailed to you.. The completed application can be mailed or e-mailed back to them if you so choose.
Proof of identity (driver's license or picture I.D.), residence, income, resource and shelter expenses are required. An interview is also required. If you apply at your local department of social services, the interview may take place at a later date.
Applications for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or General
Relief, are considered an application for SNAP, unless you request otherwise.
If all members have applied for or get Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you
may also apply for SNAP at the local Social Security office.
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Designating a Representative to Act on Your Behalf
A spouse, adult member of your household, trusted friend, relative or neighbor
can be designated representative. This person may:
- Apply for SNAP for your household
- Receive a Virginia EBT Card that can access your SNAP account
- Use your SNAP benefits for you at the grocery store
- Receive copies of your SNAP notices and correspondence
If you want to designate an authorized representative you may do so your application or by writing a note for that person
to take to the local social services department. The note will need to include:
- The name, address and phone number of the person you designating
- The duties you want that person to perform on your behalf
- Your signature and the date
Items that Can and Cannot be Purchased
Items that can be purchased with SNAP include:
- Food or food products meant to be eaten by people
- Vegetable seeds and food producing plants, roots, and trees for family consumption
- Baby formula, diabetic, and diet foods
- Edible items used in preparing or preserving food such as spices and herbs, pectin, and shortening
- Water and ice labeled for human consumption
- Snack foods
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- Meals delivered to elderly or disabled SNAP recipients if the organization providing the meal is authorized to accept EBT cards
Items that cannot be purchased with benefits include:
- Prepared hot foods in grocery stores
- Any prepared food (hot or cold) sold and meant to be eaten at the store
- Alcoholic beverages and tobacco
- Cleaning products, paper products, toiletries, and cooking utensils
- Pet foods
- Items for food preservation such as canning jars and lids, freezer containers, or food wrapping paper
- Medicines, vitamins or minerals
- Items for gardening such as fertilizer and peat moss
Retailers will not give cash change on an EBT purchase. The EBT card will not allow a person to receive cash from an Automated Teller Machine (ATM).
Food purchased with SNAP benefits is exempt from the state sales tax. However, sales tax is charged on the value of manufacturer's coupons that might be used in the transaction, and the sales tax must be paid in cash.
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Example: An EBT cardholder's groceries add up to $27.50. She has manufacturer's coupons which total $3.50, to reduce her grocery bill to $24.00. $24.00 is deducted from her EBT account, and she will owe Virginia's food sales tax on the value of the coupons (2.5% food sales tax times $3.50 equals 8.75 cents, rounded to 9 cents).
When items that were purchased with SNAP benefits are returned to the store, the merchant credits the money back to the EBT account. Cash is not given back.
At the checkout counter, tell the cashier beforehand that you will pay with
your EBT Card. Depending on the store, you may need to separate the items.
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Selecting Head Of Household
You may select any adult member as the head of your household.
If you select either an adult parent of a child any age or an adult who acts
as a guardian for a child under age 18, all the adults in the household must agree
with your choice for head of household or the agency will choose the head of
your household.
If you select any other adult or you do not select a head of household, and
someone in your household does not cooperate with an employment and training
program or reduces the hours worked or quits a job without good cause, the agency
will choose the head of household to be the person who earned the most money
from working during the previous two months.
If the person selected as head of household does not cooperate as required with
an employment program or reduces the hours worked or quits a job without good
cause, your household may not be able to get SNAP for up to 6 months.
You may select the head of your household every time you apply for SNAP.
If there is a parent-child combination, you may change your selection whenever
someone joins or leaves your household. Tell your worker if you want to change
your selection.
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Penalties For SNAP Program Violations
You must not give false information or hide information to get SNAP.
You must not trade or sell the EBT card or your PIN. You must not allow a retailer
to debit your EBT account in exchange for cash. You must not change EBT cards
to get SNAP you are not eligible to receive. You must not use SNAP
to buy non-food items, such as alcohol, tobacco or paper products. You must
not use someone else's SNAP or EBT card for your household.
Anyone intentionally breaking any of these rules could be barred from receiving
SNAP for 12 months (1st violation); barred for 24 months (2nd violation);
barred permanently (3rd violation); subject to $250,000 fine, imprisoned up
to 20 years, or both; suspended for an additional 18 months and further prosecuted
under other federal and state laws.
Anyone who intentionally gives false information or hides information about
identity or residence to get SNAP in more than one household at the same
time could be barred for 10 years.
Anyone convicted of trading SNAP for a controlled substance could
be barred from receiving SNAP for 24 months (1st violation) and barred permanently
(2nd violation).
Anyone convicted of trading SNAP for firearms, ammunition, or explosive
could be barred permanently (1st violation).
Anyone convicted for trading or selling SNAP of $500 or more could
be barred permanently.
Anyone convicted of a drug-related felony committed after August 22, 1996,
could be barred permanently.
For additional information on program rules, federal regulations, income limits
and retailer information visit the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture Web site.
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