End of SNAP Emergency Allotments
The temporary boost to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic, known as emergency allotments, will end nationwide after the February 2023 issuance. As of March 1, 2023, all SNAP participants will suffer cuts to their SNAP benefits each month. This will affect more than 470,000 participants in Virginia. When this “hunger cliff” hits, each SNAP participant will lose, on average, $82 a month. As a result, average SNAP benefits will fall to $6 a day per person.
- SNAP Helpline: (866) 753-7627
- SNAP Calculator
- SNAP at Virginia Department of Social Services
- Virginia Food Bank Locator
- Virginia Fresh Match (VFM) programs: VFM offers nutrition incentives to households by doubling the value of SNAP benefits spent at participating farmers markets and food stores.
- The National Hunger Hotline staff connects callers with emergency food providers in their community, government assistance programs, and various social services. The hotline can be reached at 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479) or 1-877-8-HAMBRE (1-877-842-6273), for Spanish, from Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET. Call the Hunger Hotline.
Take Action – Send this action alert by FRACto support the Close the Meal Gap Act: https://p2a.co/joR2Xdj and share on social media with the graphic below.
Medicaid Unwinding
Medicaid and FAMIS have been valuable lifelines for kids during the pandemic. As pandemic coverage protections end, 146,452 of Virginia’s kids are at risk of becoming uninsured. Read more about the high stakes for children when the Medicaid continuous coverage protection expires in the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families 2023 Annual State Enrollment Report.
- Learn more in this Renewal Process Flowchart.
- Stay up to date on timelines and access information through Cover Virginia at coverva.org/en/phe-planning.
- For additional help, Medicaid enrollees can visit Enroll Virginia, enrollva.org/get-help or call 888.392.5132 to make a free appointment with a navigator. Navigators can help complete renewal forms, reapply for Medicaid, or transition to new affordable coverage through the Marketplace.
- Head to Facebook to watch the recording of Enroll Virginia’s Facebook live event in English and Spanish from February 16, “The End of the Public Health Emergency and Medicaid: What You Need to Know.”
Virginia will start to review Medicaid members’ health coverage beginning in March 2023. They will not cancel or reduce coverage for members without asking for updated information, but theyneed your help to make this a smooth process. You can take steps now to make sure you receive information you will need to renew your coverage.
What Medicaid members can do now:
Update your contact information. You can make updates:
- Online at commonhelp.virginia.gov
- By calling Cover Virginia at 855.242.8282, or
- By calling your local Department of Social Services (Local DSS office locator tool).