SNAP Policy & Procedures

This page discusses selected items that affect Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility. Please view the SNAP Manual for additional information.

The following is general information about SNAP intended for potential applicants and participants, or the general public (such as students or media). Please direct questions to your Local Department of Social Services.

Designating a Representative to Act on Your Behalf

A spouse, adult member of your household, trusted friend, relative or neighbor can be a 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 on 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 are designating
• The duties you want that person to perform on your behalf
• Your signature and the date

Work Requirements

Age exemptions have changed. If a customer is 64 or under, they are required to meet SNAP work requirements, unless otherwise exempt. The dependent child exemption has changed, too. If a customer has a dependent child age 14 or older, they are required to meet SNAP work requirements, unless otherwise exempt. Local departments of social services can no longer receive work requirement exemptions based on the availability of jobs in the area.

If a customer is impacted by this change, they should have received the SNAP Work Requirement Consolidated Information Notice by mail. This notice:

• Explains the work requirement, time-limited benefits and how to regain eligibility
• Includes a list of work requirement exemptions
• Includes instructions for the customer to select all applicable exemptions

Effective November 1, 2025, the following work requirement exemptions for able-bodied adults without dependents are no longer available:

• People experiencing homelessness
• United States veterans
• People between the ages of 18 and 24 who have transitioned out of foster care

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 of 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, 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, reduces the hours worked or quits a job without good cause, your household may not be able to get SNAP for up to six 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 Benefit Programs Specialist if you want to change your selection.

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 (1^st violation)
• barred for 24 months (2^nd violation)
• barred permanently (3^rd 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 ten years.

Anyone convicted of trading SNAP for a controlled substance could be barred from receiving SNAP for 24 months (1^st violation) and barred permanently (2^nd violation).

Anyone convicted of trading SNAP for firearms, ammunition or explosives could be barred permanently (1^st violation).

Anyone convicted for trading or selling SNAP of $500 or more could be barred permanently.

For additional information on program rules, federal regulations, income limits and retailer information, visit the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) website.