RICHMOND, Va (WTVR) — The state agency in charge of issuing out food assistance benefits said it is taking steps to give families access to fresh food before it sells out.
Beginning on September 1, the Virginia Department of Social Services will begin staggering when it hands out Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, formerly known as food stamps.
The benefits will be handed out four times each month.
Pat Karney, with Social Services, said they hope the change offers families healthier options that weren’t always available.
“Our hope is that our customers will have better access to healthy and nutritious food choices when they shop,” said Karney. “Hopefully this will allow the retail community to adequately restock shelves at the first of the month and spread out the demand for the product over the first several days of the month.”
The new schedule will be based on the last digit of the SNAP recipients’ case numbers:
For more information about the change, SNAP clients can visit the Virginia Department of Social Services website by clicking here, and click on “SNAP Changes Coming,’ or call 2-1-1 for more information.
