Política y procedimientos de SNAP

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.

Designar a un representante para que actúe en su nombre

A spouse, adult member of your household, trusted friend, relative or neighbor can be a designated representative. This person may:

• Solicite SNAP para su hogar
• Reciba una tarjeta EBT de Virginia que puede acceder a su cuenta de SNAP
• Use sus beneficios de SNAP para usted en la tienda de comestibles
• Recibir copias de sus avisos y correspondencia de SNAP

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
• Los deberes que desea que esa persona realice en su nombre
• Su firma y la fecha

Requisitos de trabajo

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

Selección de Jefe de Familia

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.

Puede seleccionar al cabeza de familia cada vez que solicite SNAP. Si hay una combinación de padre e hijo, puede cambiar su selección cada vez que alguien se una o salga de su hogar. Dígale a su especialista en programas de beneficios si desea cambiar su selección.

Sanciones por violaciones del programa SNAP

No debe dar información falsa ni ocultar información para obtener SNAP. No debe comerciar ni vender la tarjeta EBT ni su PIN. No debes permitir que un minorista cargue tu cuenta de EBT a cambio de dinero en efectivo. No debe cambiar las tarjetas EBT para obtener SNAP que no es elegible para recibir. No debe usar SNAP para comprar artículos no alimenticios, como alcohol, tabaco o productos de papel. No debe usar la tarjeta SNAP o EBT de otra persona para su hogar.

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

Cualquier persona que intencionalmente proporcione información falsa u oculte información sobre identidad o residencia para obtener SNAP en más de un hogar al mismo tiempo podría ser inhabilitada por diez años.

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).

Cualquier persona condenada por comerciar o vender SNAP de $500 o más podría ser inhabilitada permanentemente.

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