Virginians who depend on SNAP benefits (formerly known as food stamps) to buy food will have a change coming in the fall. The change will cause a temporary delay in benefits for some recipients and will require a community response to keep families fed.

Instead of everyone getting their benefit on the first day of the month, benefits will be staggered. By October, benefits will be issued on the 1st, 4th, 7th or 9th of the month, depending on the recipient’s case number.

“Once it’s in place, the staggered schedule will help recipients in two ways: grocery lines won’t be as long on the first of the month, and stores will have time to restock, so latecomers aren’t faced with shelves that have been stripped bare,” said LaTonya Reed, public benefits attorney for the Virginia Poverty Law Center.

Read the full VPLC press release