To be eligible for the benefits program and submit the Virginia SNAP application, we must fulfill the VA SNAP Income Criteria and other requirements. All low-income families in Virginia can apply for the Food Stamp program on the Virginia CommonHelp portal to get monthly financial assistance.
All beneficiaries will get the SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program) benefits into their SNAP EBT card that they manage at the connectEBT VA portal and use to buy SNAP-eligible food items.
In this article, we will discuss the Income criteria for being eligible for the SNAP program. Since all other requirements are straightforward, we are sharing the Income criteria below.
In Virginia, the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program is known as the ‘SNAP‘, the EBT Card is known as the ‘Virginia EBT‘, and the SNAP portal is known as ‘CommonHelp‘.
As we all know the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) assesses the cost of living of the citizens in the United States and adjusts SNAP maximum allotments, deductions, and income eligibility standards for the SNAP benefits program in August (before the beginning of each federal fiscal year which starts on 1st October every year).
The cost of living adjustment (COLA) ensures that every citizen receives a minimum amount of benefits to maintain a basic living standard.
Virginia SNAP Income Criteria – General Rules by Food & Nutrition Services USDA
Several changes have been made to the SNAP Income Criteria for the Financial year 2024. To check out the changes in Virginia income criteria, we will have to look into the gross income, net income, and asset tests.
To be eligible for the SNAP benefits in Virginia state, all households must meet the Gross and Net Income criteria that we have shared below. If there is an elderly or disabled person in the household then only net income criteria must be fulfilled.
The Virginia SNAP Gross Income and Net Income criteria depend on the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
The FPL limit for the 2024 year is given below.
Federal Poverty Level (FPL):
Annual income as per the Federal Poverty Guideline.
| Family size | 2023 Income (yearly) | 2024 Income (yearly) |
|---|---|---|
| For individuals | $14,580 | $15,060 |
| For a family of 2 | $19,720 | $20,440 |
| For a family of 3 | $24,860 | $25,820 |
| For a family of 4 | $30,000 | $31,200 |
| For a family of 5 | $35,140 | $36,580 |
| For a family of 6 | $40,280 | $41,960 |
| For a family of 7 | $45,420 | $47,340 |
| For a family of 8 | $50,560 | $52,720 |
| For a family of 9+ | Add $5,140 for each extra person | Add $5,380 for each extra person |
Monthly income as per the Federal Poverty Guideline.
| Family size | 2023 Income (monthly) | 2024 Income (monthly) |
|---|---|---|
| For individuals | $1,215 | $1,255 |
| For a family of 2 | $1644 | $1,704 |
| For a family of 3 | $2,072 | $2,152 |
| For a family of 4 | $2,500 | $2,600 |
| For a family of 5 | $2,929 | $3,049 |
| For a family of 6 | $3,357 | $3,497 |
| For a family of 7 | $3,785 | $3,945 |
| For a family of 8 | $4,214 | $4,394 |
| For a family of 9+ | Add $429 for each extra person | Add $449 for each extra person |
We are sharing the Gross Income and Net Income criteria below for the VA SNAP program. Please have a look.
Gross Income Limit Criteria Virginia:
Gross Income is my total income before taxes, and for SNAP, they count all types of income unless it’s excluded. This includes money I earn from work such as job and self-employment and other sources like SSI (Supplemental Security Income) and veterans, child support, unemployment, disability, and death benefits.
To be eligible for the Virginia SNAP program, household income must be equal to or lower than 130% of the Federal Poverty Level.
Gross Monthly Income Eligibility Standards (October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024):
| Household size | Gross monthly income (2023) | Gross monthly income (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,580 | $1,632 |
| 2 | $2,137 | $2,216 |
| 3 | $2,694 | $2,798 |
| 4 | $3,250 | $3,380 |
| 5 | $3,807 | $3,964 |
| 6 | $4,364 | $4,546 |
| 7 | $4,921 | $5,129 |
| 8 | $5,478 | $5,713 |
| Each additional person | $557 | $583 |
Gross Income Eligibility Standards for the Elderly and/or disabled person:
If there are Elderly and/or disabled persons in a household then the Gross Income criteria will be 165% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
| Household size | Gross monthly income for the elderly or disabled (2023) | Gross monthly income for the elderly or disabled (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,005 | $2,071 |
| 2 | $2,712 | $2,812 |
| 3 | $3,419 | $3,551 |
| 4 | $4,125 | $4,290 |
| 5 | $4,832 | $5,031 |
| 6 | $5,539 | $5,770 |
| 7 | $6,246 | $6,510 |
| 8 | $6952 | $7,250 |
| Each additional person | $707 | $740 |
Net Income Limit Criteria Virginia:
We can calculate the net income by subtracting the applicable deductions from the gross income. There are different types of deductions that households can use to calculate their NET Income such as Medical expenses, Utility, bill payment expenses, shelter-related expenses, child support payments, rent, etc.
“Net income = Gross Income – Deductions“.
Net Income eligibility criteria for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is equal to 100% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Please check the Net Income criteria in the below table.
Net Monthly Income Eligibility Standards (October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024):
| Household size | Monthly net income (2023) | Monthly net income (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| For individuals | $1,215 | $1,255 |
| For a family of 2 | $1644 | $1,704 |
| For a family of 3 | $2,072 | $2,152 |
| For a family of 4 | $2,500 | $2,600 |
| For a family of 5 | $2,929 | $3,049 |
| For a family of 6 | $3,357 | $3,497 |
| For a family of 7 | $3,785 | $3,945 |
| For a family of 8 | $4,214 | $4,394 |
| For a family of 9+ | Add $429 for each extra person | Add $449 for each extra person |
Key points:
- To be eligible for the SNAP benefits, households must meet the gross income and net income criteria we have shared above.
- If there is an elderly (60 years or older) or disabled person in the household then only net income criteria will be used to determine the household eligibility for SNAP. It means if the gross income is higher than the applicable limit but net income is under the applicable limit then the household will get SNAP benefits if fulfilling the assets test also.
- If my family is getting other government assistance benefits like TANF or SSI, we might also get SNAP easily because we’re already approved for one assistance program.”
Deductions and Allowances – Virginia State
The most important point here is how we can calculate the total deductions. Calculating the deductions is not that simple and takes time and up-to-date information about each type of expense a household makes in a year. We are sharing the information about different types of deductions below.
1-A 20 percent deduction of all gross earned income is allowed.
2-Standard Deductions:
Allowed standard deductions are given below which is $198 for a family of 1 to 3 members and $208 for a family of 4 members.
| Household size | Standard deductions (old) | Standard deductions (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| For a family of 1 to 3 | $191 | $198 |
| For a family of 4 | $191 | $208 |
| For a family of 5 | $225 | $244 |
| For a family of 6+ | $258 | $279 |
3-Maximum Shelter Deductions:
The maximum allowed Shelter Deductions for Virginia is $672 which was $624 last year. If there is an elderly or disabled member in the household then all shelter costs may be deducted if the shelter costs are more than half of a family income.
Allowable shelter costs include:
- Fuel to heat and cook with.
- Electricity.
- Water.
- The basic fee for one telephone.
- Rent or mortgage payments and interest, home improvement loans.
- Taxes on the home, homeowner insurance
- Standard utility allowance (SUA) for your household
4-Maximum Homeless Shelter Deductions:
The maximum allowed Homeless Shelter Deductions for Virginia is $179.66 which was $166.81 last year.
5-Maximum Asset Limits:
There is no asset limit in Virginia. Asset limit will be applicable if there is any 60 years or older or disabled person in the household who did not meet the Gross Income test we have shared above. In this case, the asset limit is $4250.
Asset means countable resources, like cash, real estate, personal property, funds in bank accounts, etc. A home is not counted as a resource.
6-Standard Medical Deduction:
Elderly (60 years or older) or disabled persons can deduct the monthly medical costs after subtracting $35.
Standard medical deduction = medical expenses – $35.
It helps the elderly or disabled people to reduce their gross income and increase the Food Stamp/SNAP amount. Different types of allowable expenses are included in the medical deductions such as…
- Most medical and dental expenses.
- Doctor bills
- Medical supplies and equipment
- Eyeglasses
- Medications approved by a doctor
- Hospital expenses
- Hearing aids
- Dentures
- Transportation costs for medical treatment, etc.
Please note that to deduct the medical expenses, we will have to share the expense proofs such as doctor and hospital bills, insurance statements, prescriptions receipts, etc.
Utility Allowances in Virginia State:
Households can deduct the Utility allowance such as Heating and Cooling, Basic Utility, and Other utilities such as Electricity, Gas and Fuel, Water, Sewage, etc. Utility allowances vary state by state. If we talk about Virginia state, the Utility Allowances are given below.
i-Heating and Cooling Utility Allowance (HCSUA): In Virginia state, $414 HCSUA (for a family of 1 to 3 members) and $524 HCSUA (for a family of 4 or more members) can be claimed if the household pays for the heating and cooling utility bills or receives over $20 heating assistance from LIHEAP.
ii-Basic/ Limited Utility Allowance (BUA/LUA): Applicable for households that do not pay any heating or cooling expenses separate from their rent or mortgage. The LUA includes expenses for at least two allowable utility costs except heating/cooling costs. In Virginia state, $0 BUA/LUA can be claimed for at least two or more utility bills.
iii-A telephone-only allowance: Applicable for households that have no utility expenses other than telephone. In Virginia state, citizens can claim a $52 Telephone allowance. In Virginia Island, a Heating and Cooling allowance or Basic Utility allowance is not available so citizens can claim a Telephone allowance of $33.
iii-Other Utility Allowances: It include single utility allowances for Electricity, Gas and Fuel, Water, Sewage, Trash, Phone, etc other than the Heating/Cooling and Telephone allowance. Standard Utility Allowances for the Electricity, Gas and Fuel, Water, Sewage, and Trash is $0 in Virginia.
Note: Only one utility allowance can be received by a household. Households can choose the highest allowance in case eligible for multiple allowances.
How to Calculate the Shelter Deduction in Virginia State?
Use the below method to calculate the Shelter costs.
i-Shelter expenses = non-utility shelter costs (rent, mortgages) + standard utility allowance (SUA).
ii-Preliminary net income = Gross monthly income – [earned income deduction (including any child support paid out through court order) – standard deduction – any dependent care – allowable medical costs].
iii-Calculate half of the Preliminary net income.
Not your Shelter costs will be…
Excess shelter cost = Shelter expenses (i) – Half of the preliminary net income (iii).
An example to calculate the shelter Costs and Deduction:
My monthly earning is $1,650 through part-time work and I live with my wife and 2 children. I pay $650 rent per month and pay for utilities and heat.
I will calculate my shelter deduction as follows.
i-Shelter expenses = $650 (rent) + $524 (SUA) = $1,174. (Standard Utility Allowance is $524 for 4 members and $414 for 1-3 members in Virginia state)
ii-Preliminary net income = $1,650 Gross monthly income – $330 (earned deduction) – $208 (standard deduction) = $1,112
iii-Half of the Preliminary net income = $556.
My Excess shelter cost = $1,174 – $556 = $618.
My excess shelter cost of $618 is less than $672 (capped amount) so I can deduct $618.
Finally, my net income will be calculated by subtracting the max shelter deduction from the preliminary net income. Which will be $1,112 – $618 = $494.
$494 is less than the $2,600 allowed for a 4-person household, I met the income test.
SNAP Benefit Calculation:
From the above calculations of my net income ($494), I can calculate how much SNAP benefits I will get each month.
SNAP benefits = Maximum SNAP allotment – 30 percent of net income.
In my case…
My SNAP benefit = $973 (Maximum for 4-member family) – $494×30/100 = $824. It means I will get $825 SNAP benefits per month.
How Much SNAP Benefit Amount I Receive in Virginia State?
Citizens receive SNAP benefits based on the net income of a household but can not exceed the maximum benefit limit and can not be lower than the minimum benefit limit set by the USDA.
Maximum SNAP Allotments for Virginia:
As per COLA fiscal year (FY) 2024 (October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024), a maximum limit has been applied to the benefits Virginia citizens receive through the SNAP assistance program. The maximum SNAP benefits a household will get in Virginia are shown in the below table.
It depends on the number of members in a household and is valid from October 1, 2023, TO September 30, 2024.
| Household size | Maximum SNAP Virginia (October 2022 – September 2023) | Maximum SNAP Virginia (October 2023 – September 2024) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $281 | $291 |
| 2 | $516 | $535 |
| 3 | $740 | $766 |
| 4 | $939 | $973 |
| 5 | $1,116 | $1,155 |
| 6 | $1,339 | $1,386 |
| 7 | $1,480 | $1,532 |
| 8 | $1,691 | $1,751 |
| Each additional person | $211 | $219 |
Minimum Benefit Amounts:
As per COLA fiscal year (FY) 2024 (October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024), minimum SNAP Allotments for Household Size 1 to 2 will be $23 in Virginia which remains the same as compared to the previous year. It means all eligible citizens will get at least $23 benefits every month.
2024 Income Criteria-related changes in Virginia:
- FPL’s Annual Income has been changed in 2024. For a household with 1 member, it is incremented by $480, for a household with 2 members, it is incremented by $720, and for a household with 3 members, it is incremented by $960.
- FPL’s Monthly Income has been changed in 2024. For a household with 1 member, it is incremented by $40, for a household with 2 members, it is incremented by $60, and for a household with 3 members, it is incremented by $80.
- Due to the change in FPL’s Annual and monthly Income Criteria, The Gross Income Criteria, Gross Income Criteria for the elderly and/or disabled, and Net Income criteria have also changed in Virginia.
- Standard deductions have also increased in 2024. The standard deduction for a household with 1 member is $198 in 2024 which was $191 in 2023. For a family of 5, the standard deduction is now $244 in 2024 which was $225 in 2023.
- The maximum allowed Shelter Deduction has also increased in 2024. It is currently $672 in Virginia which was $624 in 2023.
- The maximum allowed Homeless Shelter Deduction limit has also increased in 2024. It is currently $179.66 in Virginia which was $166.81 in 2023.
- Maximum SNAP allotment has also increased in 2024. For a household with 1 member, the maximum SNAP allotment limit is $291 now which was $281 in 2023, for a household with 2 members, the maximum SNAP allotment limit is $535 now which was $516 in 2023.
How to Apply for SNAP in Virginia?
If you are residing in the Virginia state then you can visit the official SNAP website of the Virginia state and submit your application. Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) manages the CommonHelp web portal where citizens can submit their applications in an online mode.
We can also download the VA Benefits application form which is used to submit applications for different benefits programs such as SNAP, Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), etc. Fill out this application form, visit your local DSS office in Virginia along with all relevant documents, and submit your SNAP application form.
If you are already receiving the SNAP benefits then register a new account on the ConnectEBT VA Portal and check your EBT card balance after logging into your account.
When will I get my SNAP benefits every month?
We are sharing the benefit schedule for the Virginia state below. USDA releases the SNAP benefit issuance schedule for all states every year. Citizens in Virginia state will receive their SNAP benefits from the 1st to the 7th of every month. This SNAP schedule is based on the last digits of the client’s case number.
- FS case number ends in: 0-3 = benefits available on the 1st of the month
- FS case number ends in: 4-5 = benefits available on the 4th of the month
- FS case number ends in: 6-9 = benefits available on the 7th of the month
Helpline
For further assistance or inquiry, please get help through the contact details below.
Phone number: 1-800-552-3431
Email: [email protected]
Summary:
| Particulars | Summary |
|---|---|
| Program name | Virginia SNAP |
| EBT card | Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Virginia EBT Card |
| Offline application form | Download in English Download in Spanish |
| Virginia EBT Website | www.connectebt.com/vaebtclient/ |
| Administrative agency | Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) |
| Article type | Income Limit |
| Objective | To find the Income eligibility of citizens in Virginia for the SNAP program |
| Beneficiary | All citizens residing in Virginia State |
| Who can apply for SNAP benefits | All eligible Virginia citizens who fulfill the eligibility and income limit criteria |
| Official SNAP website | Visit here |
| Apply online | Visit here |
| Local DSS office | Search here |
| Employment and training | Visit here |
| SNAP Phone number | 1-800-552-3431 |
| EBT Phone number | 1-866-281-2448 1-800-828-1120 (TTY) |
Final Take
We have shared all the key information related to Virginia’s SNAP Income limit in this article. We have also shared how Virginia citizens can calculate the Earnings and Deductions and SNAP benefits amount they will receive. Now citizens can easily check their eligibility criteria for the VA SNAP benefit program with the help of the information we have shared above.
Article summary…
Virginia SNAP Income Limits (Oct. 1, 2023, through Sept. 30, 2024):
- The Gross Income Limit in Virginia is 130% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
- The Net Income Limit in Virginia is 100% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
- The Gross Income Limit in Virginia for elderly (60+ or older) and/or disabled is 165% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
In short, the Income limit is…
| Household size | Gross monthly income 2024 (130% of federal poverty level) | Gross monthly income 2024 for elderly or disabled (165% of federal poverty level) | Net monthly income 2024 (100% of federal poverty level) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,632 | $2,071 | $1,255 |
| 2 | $2,216 | $2,812 | $1,704 |
| 3 | $2,798 | $3,551 | $2,152 |
| 4 | $3,380 | $4,290 | $2,600 |
| 5 | $3,964 | $5,031 | $3,049 |
| 6 | $4,546 | $5,770 | $3,497 |
| 7 | $5,129 | $6,510 | $3,945 |
| 8 | $5,713 | $7,250 | $4,394 |
| 9+ | Add $583 for each additional person | Add $740 for each additional person | Add $449 for each additional person |
Finally, please write in the comment section below and share your views or ask questions related to this article.
References:
- The SNAP rules allow you to deduct shelter expenses that exceed half of your net income, but not a dollar-for-dollar deduction of shelter costs. This is called the “shelter deduction.” 106 C.M.R. § 364.400(G). https://www.masslegalservices.org/content/81-what-shelter-deduction-and-how-it-calculated
- SNAP Special Rules for the Elderly or Disabled, https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/eligibility/elderly-disabled-special-rules.
- To get SNAP benefits, you must apply in the state in which you currently live and you must meet certain requirements, including resource and income limits, which are described on this page. SNAP income and resource limits are updated annually. https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/recipient/eligibility.
- SNAP FY 2024 Cost-of-Living Adjustments, This memorandum provides the fiscal year (FY) 2024 cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) maximum allotments, income eligibility standards, and deductions, https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/fy-2024-cola.
- Poverty Guidelines, The 2023 poverty guidelines are in effect as of January 17, 2024. Federal Register Notice, January 17, 2024. https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-guidelines.
- Standard Utility Allowances, https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/eligibility/deduction/standard-utility-allowances.
- Virginia CommonHelp, A guide for navigating and applying for assistance, https://commonhelp.virginia.gov/.
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Virginia Department of Social Services, https://www.dss.virginia.gov/benefit/snap.cgi
We are not affiliated with the Virginia government or any other government agency. All the information has been taken from USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture), Virginia Department of Social Services, and other official government sources. We do not claim to be a government official or legal advisor. Please check government websites for authentic and updated information
I have been writing since 2010 in different domains such as jobs, recruitment, education, government services, etc. Currently writing articles on U.S. government benefits-related topics including SNAP, WIC, TANF, EBT, etc. LinkedIn Facebook Contact Us