The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides food assistance to low-income families, helping them buy groceries through a benefits card accepted in most food retail stores and some farmer's markets.
You can use your SNAP benefits to stretch your food budget and buy nutritious foods that keep you and your family healthy.
Our Food Assistance & Referral Specialist can answer your questions about the program, determine if you qualify and help you apply for SNAP benefits. Click here to schedule an appointment today.
With the ongoing federal government shutdown, many Virginians may be wondering what this means for essential programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and for food assistance across our state. While some services continue, others may be disrupted depending on the length of the shutdown. The Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank remains committed to supporting our neighbors during this uncertain time, and we know many individuals and families may have questions—some seeking food assistance for the very first time. To help, we’ve compiled answers to some of the most common questions we anticipate from our community.
SNAP should not be impacted through October 2025, so your balance on your EBT card is available to you as usual. The regular rule is if you do not use your Independence Card for 180 days, your benefits will no longer be available. If you lose your benefits due to inactivity, contact the local office of the Virginia Department of Social Services (DSS) for assistance.
No. If you were eligible for benefits during the time you were not getting paid, you should not be asked to repay that money. You will need to report your income to your local branch of DSS when income resumes. In some cases, this may result in losing benefits you were entitled to during your period of reduced income.
If you are in need of money to pay for food, you can explore whether you are eligible for benefits. Applications for SNAP and other benefits are still being processed as usual.
Recertifications are being processed as usual. If you need to recertify or have not gotten your October benefit, our SNAP Outreach & Referral Coordinator can help. Call us at (540) 371-7666 x 146 or email gethelp@fredfood.org for assistance.
Not true. All certified EBT vendors should still be accepting benefits. It is possible that a store was in the middle of the vendor renewal process during the shutdown, which may have caused them to not accept benefits for a period of time. If a store advertised that you could use EBT benefits and did not accept yours, this should be reported to your local branch of DSS.
The Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank is here to help! Contact our SNAP Outreach & Referral Coordinator at (540) 371-7666 x 146 or email gethelp@fredfood.org.
You can visit the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank’s Pantry Locator Map or download our app FredFoodVA to find partner organizations near you to get food. If you do not have internet access, please call (540) 371-7666 x 146 for help finding food near you.
Family Size
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Monthly Income
$2,430
$3,287
$4,143
$5,000
$5,857
$6,713
$7,570
$8,427
Additional Members
$857
Eligibility is based on household size, monthly gross income level, and income expenses.
If your income level is lower than the levels shown here, then you are probably eligible and we highly encourage you to apply for benefits.
Have questions about SNAP?
Reach out to our Food Assistance & Referral Specialist, Diane Grimes below.
