VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

VDSS Launches Disaster SNAP Benefits for Victims of Hurricane Helene

In response to the widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, VDSS is offering a new, temporary Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP) to assist residents in qualifying affected counties.

VDSS Headquarters Relocates to New Innsbrook Location

This month, the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) will begin relocating its headquarters from downtown Richmond to its new location at 5600 Cox Road in Glen Allen, VA.

Application Period for Fuel Assistance Now Open

The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) is currently accepting applications for fuel assistance online and at all local departments of social services through Monday, November 13, 2023.

New Survey Provides Insight into How Virginians Volunteer and Participate in Their Communities

Serve Virginia, the lead agency of the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) for community service and volunteerism, is proud to announce the release of the inaugural Virginia Community Engagement Index (VCEI).

Virginia Recognizes Top Ten Hospitals for Stellar Paternity Establishment Rates

The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) in conjunction with the Virginia Paternity Establishment Program (VPEP) has announced the top ten Virginia hospitals recognized for excellent performances in paternity establishment rates for 2022. These hospitals, located throughout the Commonwealth, continue to set a high standard by recording paternity establishment rates greater than the Commonwealth’s average of 77 percent and exceeding the projected state-mandated goal of more than 80 percent for the year.

Virginia Receives Federal Approval to Replace SNAP Benefits for Victims of Fraud

The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) was approved by the United States Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service to replace certain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits stolen from clients' Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards beginning July 17, 2023.

Cooling Assistance Application Period Underway

The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) will provide cooling assistance to qualifying households this year through the Virginia Energy Assistance Program (EAP). Applications are currently being accepted and can be submitted until Tuesday, August 15.

Summer P-EBT Benefits Will Be Issued to School-Age Children in Virginia

The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) will issue Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) program benefits of $120 to households with eligible children in grades K-12 beginning July 22, 2023. P-EBT is a federal program created in spring 2020 to supplement school meals that students missed while schools were closed or placed on part-time attendance schedules due to COVID-19. The United States Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service approved Virginia’s plan to release a single summer benefit payment of $120 to eligible school-age children in accordance with the guidelines issued by Congress.

Serve Virginia Recognizes Volunteers Statewide in Inaugural Honor Roll Celebration

The Serve Virginia Honor Roll, released May, 31, 2023, celebrates the valuable contributions of more than 2.2 million volunteers across the Commonwealth. In recognition of their service, totaling more than 231 million hours annually, the Serve Virginia Honor Roll spotlights above and beyond volunteers that serve their communities in a variety of ways, promoting quality of life and creating a lasting impact for others. More than 400 volunteers and organizations will be honored in this year’s inaugural honor roll, representing volunteer efforts and community involvement aligned with the services of the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS), including educating and mentoring

Governor Glenn Youngkin and VDSS Celebrate Successful First Year of Modernized Foster Parent Onboarding Process

Governor Glenn Youngkin and the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) proudly celebrate the successful first year rollout of its Faster Families Highway, a new digital resource launched in April 2022 to strengthen statewide partnerships and streamline the pathway to becoming a foster parent.

Temporary Benefits for Several Virginia Assistance Programs Will End Soon

Several medical, food and financial assistance flexibilities and programs administered by the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) and the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) are set to expire due to recent changes in federal legislation. The programs, which have provided additional benefits and eligibility waivers to many Virginians, were offered on a temporary basis to help households cope with hardship during the COVID19 pandemic.

SNAP Emergency Allotments Will End in February

The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) will release the final issuance of emergency allotment benefits to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) households in February, in accordance with the requirements of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023.

Emergency Allotments Will Continue for SNAP Households in January

Virginia's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has received federal approval to release emergency benefits to eligible households in January. These enhanced benefits will be automatically loaded to recipients’ Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards on Monday, January 16.

Emergency Allotments Will Continue for SNAP Households in December

Virginia's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has received federal approval to release emergency benefits to eligible households in December. These enhanced benefits will be automatically loaded to recipients’ Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards on Friday, December 16.

Update: Application Period for Fuel Assistance Now Open

The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) is currently accepting applications for fuel assistance online and at all local departments of social services through Monday, November 14. Applications may also be submitted by telephone by contacting the Enterprise Customer Service Center, Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. at (855) 635-4370

Emergency Allotments Will Continue for SNAP Households in November

Virginia's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has received federal approval to release emergency benefits to eligible households in November. These enhanced benefits will be automatically loaded to recipients’ Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards on Wednesday, November 16.

VDSS Division of Licensing Programs Receives Second Infection Prevention and Control Grant

The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) Division of Licensing Programs (DOLP) was recently awarded $1.35 million in grant funding by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) to provide essential infection prevention and control support to licensed adult care facilities. In partnership with Health Quality Innovators (HQI), this funding will provide resources to adult care facilities and their staff to assist in mitigating the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

VDSS Division of Child Support Enforcement Receives Grant to Help Domestic Violence Survivors Safely Gain Access to Child Support

The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) Division of Child Support Enforcement (DCSE) has been awarded a Safe Access for Victims' Economic Security (SAVES) grant by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to implement comprehensive, expert-informed domestic violence services to survivors who are in need of child support. Virginia is one of 13 state child support agencies in the country to receive the five-year grant. The grant-funded project is a new national demonstration model designed to develop, evaluate, and implement best practices to provide safe access to child support and parenting time services.

Application Period for Fuel Assistance Now Open

The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) is currently accepting applications for fuel assistance online and at all local departments of social services through Monday, November 14. Applications may also be submitted by telephone by contacting the Enterprise Customer Service Center, Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. at (855) 635-4370

Emergency Allotments Will Continue for SNAP Households in October

Virginia's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has received federal approval to release emergency benefits to eligible households in August. These enhanced benefits will be automatically loaded to recipients’ Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards on Sunday, October 16.

Emergency Allotments Will Continue for SNAP Households in September

Update Regarding Summer P-EBT Issuance Delays

RICHMOND, VA (September 12, 2022) - In response to unforeseen delays in the release of Summer 2022 Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) benefits to eligible households statewide, the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) has taken the following actions:

VDSS to Release Summer P-EBT Benefits August 25

Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) has received federal approval to issue retroactive Summer P-EBT benefits to eligible K-12 students. As food security continues to be a challenge for many Virginia households with school-age children, VDSS is pleased to be able to offer this temporary assistance to individuals and families in need of nutritional support. The additional P-EBT benefit will provide approximately $276 million in food assistance to more than 700,000 students.

Emergency Allotments Will Continue for SNAP Households in August

Virginia's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has received federal approval to release emergency benefits to eligible households in August. These enhanced benefits will be automatically loaded to recipients' Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards on Tuesday, August 16.

Virginia Recognizes Top Ten Hospitals for Stellar Paternity Establishment Rates

Each year, the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS), in conjunction with Veritas HHS and the Virginia Paternity Establishment Program (VPEP), recognizes the top ten Virginia hospitals with the highest rates of paternity establishment. In 2021, more than 33,000 births in Virginia were to unmarried parents and the Commonwealth's paternity establishment rate climbed from 73.64% in 2020 to 76%. The hospital achieving the highest rate in 2021 was Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center (MCRC) in Richmond, which averaged a rate of 88.31%.

Cooling Assistance Application Period Underway