Food Assistance programs provide benefits to eligible persons for the purchase of vital food items. In October 2009, Virginia officially changed the name of the food stamp program to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP can be used like cash to buy eligible food items from authorized retailers. A SNAP account is established for eligible households and automatic deposits are made into the account each month. To access the account, they will also receive an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Card, which will debit the account each time eligible food items are purchased. A secret Personal Identification Number (PIN) is required to use the card.
Authorized retailers will display either the Quest logo or a picture of the Virginia EBT card.
The Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC) safeguards the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and referrals to health care. Although the program is administered by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), application for benefits can be made through the Virginia Department of Social Services.