FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Joron Moore-Planter
Phone: 804-726-7934
Email: joron.moore@dss.virginia.gov

Thomas Steinhauser
Phone: 804-726-7362
Email: tom.steinhauser@dss.virginia.gov

SNAP Staggered Payments Begin Sept. 1
VDSS encourages customers to plan ahead to lessen impact during transition

RICHMOND, Va. (August 27, 2012) – The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) is reminding recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps, that benefits will begin a staggered payment schedule September 1, 2012.

To lessen the impact of the change, the Department encourages recipients to plan accordingly.

“About 60 percent of Virginia’s SNAP customers will initially experience a slight delay during the two month transition period. It’s important that they plan now for this change to ensure they have enough food” said VDSS’ Director of Benefit Programs, Thomas Steinhauser. “Also, with this transition coming during the time children are returning to school, it will be helpful for parents to know that their children automatically qualify for the free school breakfast and lunch program if they are receiving SNAP benefits.”

Currently, Virginia is one of only nine states to issue SNAP benefits to all eligible households on the first day of each month. The new process will expand the issuance of benefits to four times each month; benefit issuance dates will be the 1st, 4th, 7th or 9th based on the last digit in the household’s case number. Earlier this summer VDSS sent letters to all current SNAP customers in Virginia explaining the new schedule.

The new schedule will be based on SNAP recipients’ case numbers (located on letters received from Social Services):

Case Number                                         September 2012                                       October 2012 and after
Case numbers ending in
0, 1, 2, or 3                                             1st Day of the Month                                         1st Day of the Month
Case numbers ending in
4 or 5                                                       4th Day of the Month                                         4th Day of the Month
Case numbers ending in
6 or 7                                                       4th Day of the Month                                         7th Day of the Month
Case numbers ending in
8 or 9                                                        4th Day of the Month                                        9th Day of the Month

The transition to staggered payments will be fully implemented in October, the same time in which some
families can expect to see a slight increase in benefits. This potential change is due to a Cost-of-Living
Adjustment (COLA).

Editor’s Note:

• Please include the visual of the SNAP letter in conjunction with this story to emphasize where SNAP
  recipients should look for their case number.
• For more information about this change, SNAP clients can visit the Virginia Department of Social
  Services web site at www.dss.virginia.gov and click on “SNAP Changes Coming” or call the Virginia
  Department of Social Services at 1-800-552-3431.