October 2022
- As of September 23, 2022, the USDA has granted waivers to the following states to extend their emergency allotments through October 2022
- Maximum SNAP Allotments for October 2022:
| Household size | 48 states and D.C. |
| 1 | $250 |
| 2 | $459 |
| 3 | $658 |
| 4 | $835 |
| 5 | $992 |
| 6 | $1,190 |
| 7 | $1,316 |
| 8 | $1,504 |
| Each additional member | +$188 |
USDA Expands SNAP Online Shopping, Adds New Retailers
September 20, 2022
- Within the past 4 months, the U.S. Department of Agriculture collaborated with additional vendor partners to add 44 retailers to the existing program
- More than 150 retailer chains are now offering online shopping to SNAP participants
- Online purchasing has been expanded to 49 states and the District of Columbia
USDA Modernizes the Thrifty Food Plan, Updates SNAP Benefits
August 16, 2022
- Starting Oct. 1, 2021 all Virginia SNAP participants will see an increase in benefits due to the USDA’s recent update to the Thrifty Food Plan methodology, the first since 1975
- USDA reviewed data of the Thrifty Food Plan that resulted in cost adjustments to reflect the current price of foods in the market place
- The increase in benefits provides families with a realistic budget to maintain a healthy diet and decreases the barrier of the cost of healthy foods
- On average, SNAP households will receive an increase in benefits of about $36 per person or about $1.20 per day
- The new income limits are:
| Household size | Maximum Gross Monthly Income |
| 1 | $2,147 |
| 2 | $2,904 |
| 3 | $3,660 |
| 4 | $4,147 |
| 5 | $5,147 |
| 6 | $5,930 |
| 7 | $6,687 |
| 8 | $7,444 |
| Each additional member | +$757 |
VDSS: Annual Change in SNAP Benefits Begins Oct 1st. https://www.dss.virginia.gov/files/division/pa/news_releases/2021/SNAP_Mass_Change_Release.pdf
Virginia Lifts SNAP Eligibility Ban for Drug Convicted Felons
July, 1, 2022
- Starting July 1st, 2020, applicants with previous drug-related felony convictions may now apply for SNAP benefits in Virginia
- Eligibility for federal food assistance cannot be denied solely due to drug-related felonies as long as the person is complying with:
- Obligations imposed by the criminal court and/or Department of Social Services
- Actively engaged or completed a sustance abuse treatment program
- Participates in periodic drug screenings
- In previous years, roughly 1,800 applicants with drug-related felonies were rejected from receiving benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility
July 2021
- Broad-based categorical eligibility (BBCE) is a policy in which households may become categorically eligible for SNAP because they qualify for a non-cash Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or state Maintenance of Effort (MOE) funded benefit
- Effective July 2021, Virginia SNAP participants and households that received a TANF/MOE funded benefit are eligible to be categorized under BBCE
- The gross income limit for eligible individuals is 200% of the FPL
- Will not be subject to the resource asset test
- Households not eligible for the program may apply for SNAP benefits under regular program rules
- However, the SNAP eligibility test now only includes the gross income test and net income test
- The resource/asset test is no longer needed to determine eligibility for SNAP
- SNAP households with elderly or disabled members do not need to meet the gross income limit, but must meet the net income limit.