Update
Long-Delayed Benefits Finally Reaching Virginia Families
Published
More than 855,000 Virginians are now receiving long-delayed SNAP benefits following congressional action to end the federal government shutdown and restore food-assistance funding.
Individuals enrolled in SNAP as of late October received temporary support from the Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance (VENA) program, which provided 25% of their usual monthly benefit. Those households then began receiving partial SNAP payments, with the remainder issued later to bring them to their full monthly amount. Households not eligible for VENA received their full SNAP benefits once federal payments resumed.
These staggered dates and shifting payment amounts occurred because USDA issued multiple—and at times conflicting—instructions to states during the shutdown, including different formulas for temporary and partial benefits. As legal challenges moved through the courts, states were forced to adjust benefit calculations repeatedly, leaving families uncertain about what they would ultimately receive.
The shutdown created weeks of instability as states grappled with rapidly changing USDA guidance and evolving court orders. And although the new congressional agreement funds SNAP through September 2026, the disruption has already strained families, food banks, and community resources.
“The consequences of USDA’s decisions fell squarely on SNAP households. Their conflicting guidance left families caught in needless confusion, wondering how they would be able to put food on the table,” said Cassie Edner, Virginia Poverty Law Center public benefits attorney.
The Ripple Effect
SNAP helps feed 42 million Americans and fuels local economies, generating up to $1.80 for every $1 spent. The ripple effect of deep cuts will hit every corner of the economy— from food pantries and rural hospitals to local businesses — as billionaires walk away with more than $1 trillion in tax breaks.
