VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can be used like cash to buy eligible food items from authorized retailers. Authorized retailers will display a "We Welcome SNAP EBT Customers" poster.

A SNAP account is established for eligible households and automatic deposits are made into the account each month. To access the account, they will also receive an EBT Card, which will debit the account each time eligible food items are purchased. A secret Personal Identification Number (PIN) is required to use the card. Learn more about SNAP and how to apply with these helpful interactive learning modules.

To qualify, households must meet specific income eligibility limits that vary based on the size of the household. For detailed information on the Net Monthly Income, Gross Monthly Income and Maximum SNAP Allotments per household size, visit our income eligibility section.

Eligibility Income Limits

Guidance & Procedures

Screening for Eligibility & Applying

• Option 1: Screen for eligibility and/or apply online through CommonHelp
• Option 2: Bypass eligibility screening and submit an application manually. Fill out an "Application for Benefits" from the forms section on this page and return it to your local department of social services.

Please note the following:

• An interview with a benefit program specialist for most SNAP applicants and those reapplying for benefits may be required.
• Bring proof of identity to your SNAP interview, which could include a driver's license or another photo I.D., as well as a proof of residence, income, resources and/or your housing cost.
• A manual application cannot be processed and is not considered complete until it is signed and received by your local department of social services.
• Students enrolled at least part-time in a higher education institution may be eligible for SNAP - eligibility for students.
• Applications for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or General Relief (GR) are considered an application for SNAP, unless you request otherwise.
• If all household members have applied for or get Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you may also apply for SNAP at your local Social Security office.

Flyers/Brochures

• Benefit Programs Brochure ( PDF)
• ESAP Flyer (ENG) ( PDF)
• ESAP Flyer (SPA) ( PDF)
• SNAP flyer ( PDF)
• SNAP and the Public Charge ( PDF)
• SNAP and the Public Charge (SPA) ( PDF)

Forms

• Appeal to the State Department of Social Services (ENG) ( PDF)
• Appeal to the State Department of Social Services (SPA) ( PDF)
• Application for Benefits (English) ( PDF)
• Application for Benefits (Spanish) ( PDF)
• Change Report (English) ( PDF)
• Change Report (Spanish) ( PDF)
• Elderly Simplified Application Project (ENG) ( PDF)
• Elderly Simplified Application Project (SPA) ( PDF)
• Renewal Application for Auxiliary Grant (AG), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) ( PDF)
• Renewal Application for Auxiliary Grant (AG), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) (Spanish) ( PDF)

Related Links

• Benefits Appeals
• Benefits Disqualification Hearing
• Choose My Plate
• Civil Rights Policy & Procedures
• EBT - Checking Your Balance ( PDF)
• Eat Right When Money's Tight
• How Benefits are Issued (the EBT Card)
• SNAP Manual
• SNAP Reports

SNAP Employment & Training Program (SNAP E&T)

SNAP Income Eligibility Limits

The chart below provides income eligibility standards and maximum allotments for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for federal fiscal year 2025. Your household must meet certain requirement to be eligible for SNAP and receive benefits. In most cases, your household must meet both the gross and net income limits described below or you are not eligible for SNAP and cannot receive benefits.

Gross income means a household's total, non-excluded income, before any deductions have been made.

Net income means gross income minus allowable deductions.

The total amount of SNAP benefits your household gets each month is called an allotment. Because SNAP households are expected to spend about 30 percent of their own resources on food, your allotment is calculated by multiplying your household's net monthly income by 0.3 and subtracting the result from the maximum monthly allotment for your household size.

If all members of your household are receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or other general assistance, your household may be deemed "categorically eligible" for SNAP because you have already been determined eligible for another means-tested program.

Your household may also be deemed "categorically eligible" through broad-based categorical eligibility (BBCE) if one person in your household is receiving or authorized to receive a TANF-funded service that benefits the entire household.

Apply for SNAP on-line at CommonHelp, by calling 833-522-5582 or by visiting your local department of social services.

SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
INCOME ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS AND MAXIMUM ALLOTMENTS

OCT. 1, 2024, TO SEPT. 30, 2025

*Federal Poverty Level (FPL)
*Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility (BBCE)

Household Size	Non-BBCE Net Monthly Income (100% FPL)	Non-BBCE Gross Monthly Income (130% FPL)	BBCE Gross Monthly Income (200% FPL)	Maximum SNAP Allotments
1	$1,255	$1,632	$2,510	$292
2	$1,704	$2,215	$3,407	$536
3	$2,152	$2,798	$4,303	$768
4	$2,600	$3,380	$5,200	$975
5	$3,049	$3,963	$6,097	$1,158
6	$3,497	$4,546	$6,993	$1,390
7	$3,945	$5,129	$7,890	$1,536
8	$4,394	$5,712	$8,787	$1,756
Each additional member	$449	$583	$897	$220

For more information about SNAP eligibility, visit these U.S. Department of Agriculture's webpages: SNAP FY 2025 Cost-of-Living Adjustments, SNAP Eligibility or Income Eligibility Standards.

SNAP Legal Basis

• Federal Legal Base - Food and Nutrition Act of 2008
• Federal Regulation Base - 7 CFR, 271 through 283
• State Legal Base - Code of Virginia, Section 63.2-801

SNAP Online Shopping

• SNAP Online Shopping FAQ ( PDF)