SNAP Expansion: What You Need to Know
Friday, September 17th, 2021
On July 1, 2021, Virginia expanded the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps), making over 25,000 families in Virginia newly eligible for food assistance. Here’s what you need to know about the program’s recent changes and available resources that can help with determining eligibility and the application process.
The SNAP Eligibility Test
This test used to have three parts: a gross income test, a net income test, and a resource test. Now there are only two parts: a gross income test and a net income test. The resource test was removed, and your savings accounts will no longer make you ineligible for SNAP. The gross income test increased from 130% to 200% of the federal poverty guideline, while the net income test remained the same at 100% of the federal poverty guideline. Here’s what that looks like starting October 1, 2021:
| 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines | ||
| Family Size | Annual | Monthly |
| 1 | $25,760 | $2,147 |
| 2 | $34,840 | $2,903 |
| 3 | $43,920 | $3,660 |
| 4 | $53,000 | $4,417 |
| 5 | $62,080 | $5,173 |
| 6 | $71,160 | $5,930 |
| 7 | $80,240 | $6,687 |
| 8 | $89,320 | $7,443 |
| Each Add’l | $9,080 | $757 |
| 100% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines | ||
| Family Size | Annual | Monthly |
| 1 | $12,880 | $1,073 |
| 2 | $17,420 | $1,452 |
| 3 | $21,960 | $1,830 |
| 4 | $26,500 | $2,208 |
| 5 | $31,040 | $2,587 |
| 6 | $35,580 | $2,965 |
| 7 | $40,120 | $3,343 |
| 8 | $44,660 | $3,722 |
| Each Add’l | $4,540 | $378 |
Federal Changes
Along with the expansion of SNAP in Virginia, there are two major federal changes happening to the program:
– The 15% increase for SNAP benefits will come to an end at the end of September 2021.
– This summer, the Biden Administration updated the formula to calculate SNAP benefit amounts. This led to an overall increase in SNAP benefits by about 21%, which will go into effect in October. The average benefit will increase by about $1.20 per person per day. Despite the increase, SNAP participants in Virginia will only see a slight increase in benefits because of the 15% increase ending.
To find out if you’re eligible for SNAP and to get an estimate of how much you could receive in benefits, visit vplc.org/snapcalculator/.
To get help applying for SNAP, call our helpline at 866-753-SNAP.
Stay updated on SNAP Expansion
Questions? Contact Salaam Bhatti at salaam@vplc.org.