VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Virginia SUN Bucks Returns in July, Continuing Summer Food Support for Eligible Children

In a continued effort to address childhood hunger during the summer, the Virginia Department of Social Services will again partner with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service to issue Virginia SUN Bucks, a grocery benefit program designed to help eligible school-age children meet their nutritional needs and continue to thrive when school meals are unavailable.

Enhanced Card Security Feature for SNAP Customers

The Virginia Department of Social Services has launched a new lock and unlock security feature for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program customers to help protect against Electronic Benefit Transfer card theft.

VDSS Launches Disaster SNAP Benefits for Victims of Hurricane Helene

In response to the widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, VDSS is offering a new, temporary Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) to assist residents in qualifying affected counties.

VDSS Headquarters Relocates to New Innsbrook Location

This month, the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) will begin relocating its headquarters from downtown Richmond to its new location at 5600 Cox Road in Glen Allen, VA.

Application Period for Fuel Assistance Now Open

The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) is currently accepting applications for fuel assistance online and at all local departments of social services through Monday, November 13, 2023.

New Survey Provides Insight into How Virginians Volunteer and Participate in Their Communities

Serve Virginia, the lead agency of the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) for community service and volunteerism, is proud to announce the release of the inaugural Virginia Community Engagement Index (VCEI).

Virginia Recognizes Top Ten Hospitals for Stellar Paternity Establishment Rates

The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) in conjunction with the Virginia Paternity Establishment Program (VPEP) has announced the top ten Virginia hospitals recognized for excellent performances in paternity establishment rates for 2022.

Virginia Receives Federal Approval to Replace SNAP Benefits for Victims of Fraud

The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) was approved by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service to replace certain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits stolen from clients’ Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards beginning July 17, 2023.

Cooling Assistance Application Period Underway

The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) will provide cooling assistance to qualifying households this year through the Virginia Energy Assistance Program (EAP).

Summer P-EBT Benefits Will Be Issued to School-Age Children in Virginia

The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) will issue Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) program benefits of $120 to households with eligible children in grades K-12 beginning July 22, 2023.

Serve Virginia Recognizes Volunteers Statewide in Inaugural Honor Roll Celebration

The Serve Virginia Honor Roll, released May, 31, 2023, celebrates the valuable contributions of more than 2.2 million volunteers across the Commonwealth.

Governor Glenn Youngkin and VDSS Celebrate Successful First Year of Modernized Foster Parent Onboarding Process

Governor Glenn Youngkin and the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) proudly celebrate the successful first year rollout of its Faster Families Highway,a new digital resource launched in April 2022 to strengthen statewide partnerships and streamline the pathway to becoming a foster parent.

Temporary Benefits for Several Virginia Assistance Programs Will End Soon

Several medical, food and financial assistance flexibilities and programs administered by the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) and the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) are set to expire due to recent changes in federal legislation.

SNAP Emergency Allotments Will End in February

The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) will release the final issuance of emergency allotment benefits to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households in February, in accordance with the requirements of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023.

Emergency Allotments Will Continue for SNAP Households in January

Virginia’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has received federal approval to release emergency benefits to eligible households in January.

Emergency Allotments Will Continue for SNAP Households in December

Virginia’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has received federal approval to release emergency benefits to eligible households in December.

Updated: Application Period for Fuel Assistance Now Open

The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) is currently accepting applications for fuel assistance online and at all local departments of social services through Monday, November 14, 2022.

Emergency Allotments Will Continue for SNAP Households in November

Virginia’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has received federal approval to release emergency benefits to eligible households in November.

DOLP Receives Second Infection Prevention and Control Grant

The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) Division of Licensing Programs (DOLP) was recently awarded $1.35 million in grant funding by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) to provide essential infection prevention and control support to licensed adult care facilities.

DCSE Receives Grant to Help Domestic Violence Survivors Safely Gain Access to Child Support

The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) Division of Child Support Enforcement (DCSE) has been awarded a Safe Access for Victims’ Economic Security (SAVES) grant by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to implement comprehensive, expert-informed domestic violence services to survivors who are in need of child support.

Application Period for Fuel Assistance Now Open

The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) is currently accepting applications for fuel assistance online and at all local departments of social services through Friday, November 11.

Emergency Allotments Will Continue for SNAP Households in October

Virginia’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has received federal approval to release emergency benefits to eligible households in August.

Emergency Allotments Will Continue for SNAP Households in September

Virginia’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has received federal approval to release emergency benefits to eligible households in August.

Update Regarding Summer P-EBT Issuance Delays

In response to unforeseen delays in the release of Summer 2022 Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) benefits to eligible households statewide.

VDSS to Release Summer P-EBT Benefits August 25

Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) has received federal approval to issue retroactive Summer P-EBT benefits to eligible K-12 students.

Emergency Allotments Will Continue for SNAP Households in August

Virginia’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has received federal approval to release emergency benefits to eligible households in August.

Virginia Recognizes Top Ten Hospitals for Stellar Paternity Establishment Rates

Each year, the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS), in conjunction with Veritas HHS and the Virginia Paternity Establishment Program (VPEP), recognizes the top ten Virginia hospitals with the highest rates of paternity establishment.

Cooling Assistance Application Period Underway

The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) will provide cooling assistance to qualifying households this year through the Virginia Energy Assistance Program (EAP).

Emergency Allotments Will Continue for SNAP Households in July

Virginia’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will again release emergency allotments of benefits to eligible households this month.

Emergency Allotments Will Continue for SNAP Households in June

Virginia’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will again release emergency allotments of benefits to eligible households this month.

Virginia’s P-EBT Program to Issue Benefits to Limited Households

Virginia’s Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program will issue benefits for the 2021-2022 school year to students for specific COVID-related absences under revised eligibility requirements, as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Emergency Allotments Will Continue for SNAP Households in May

Virginia’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will again release emergency allotments of benefits to eligible households this month.

Emergency Allotments Will Continue for SNAP Households in April

Virginia’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will again release emergency allotments of benefits to eligible households this month.

Emergency Allotments Will Continue for SNAP Households in March

Virginia’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will again release emergency allotments of benefits to eligible households this month.

Emergency Allotments Will Continue for SNAP Households in February

Virginia’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will again release emergency allotments of benefits to eligible households this month.

Emergency Allotments Will Continue for SNAP Households in January

Virginia’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will again release emergency allotments of benefits to eligible households this month.