Nearly 29,000 households in Fairfax County, representing over 56,000 individuals, rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for food purchasing assistance. This program provides approximately $9.9 million in monthly benefits to county residents. Due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, traditional SNAP benefits may be suspended starting November 1.
In response to this situation, Governor Glenn Youngkin has declared a State of Emergency to address the potential lapse in SNAP benefits. To help affected families, the state has introduced an emergency food assistance program called Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance (VENA). According to the press release, “The State has created an emergency food assistance program called Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance (VENA). VENA will provide emergency food assistance to eligible SNAP households while the federal shutdown continues in November.”
The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) is responsible for implementing VENA directly and there is no local involvement from Fairfax County. The statement notes: “The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) is implementing VENA directly, without local Fairfax County involvement. Emergency food assistance under VENA will be added to existing SNAP EBT cards starting Nov. 3.” For November, these benefits will be distributed weekly rather than monthly as usual.
Eligibility for VENA is limited; those not approved for SNAP before October 29 are not able to participate in this temporary program. While applications for SNAP can still be submitted during the shutdown period, new benefits cannot be issued until federal operations resume.
SNAP participants are advised to monitor their EBT card balances before shopping by using resources such as the ConnectEBT app or by calling 1-866-281-2448 with their card number. Cardholders are also encouraged to protect their accounts from fraud by locking their cards after each purchase and safeguarding personal information.
Fairfax County acknowledges that canceled or delayed payments could create significant challenges for many households dependent on SNAP. The county is working on solutions and encourages those needing immediate support to call Basic Needs Assistance at 703-222-0880 during business hours or consult the Emergency Food Access Map online for donation locations and ways community members can help.
Other public assistance programs like Child Care Assistance and Referral (CCAR) and Medical Assistance (Medicaid) remain unaffected at this time. There is currently no updated guidance regarding Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
Residents are encouraged to stay informed through updates posted on the county’s SNAP updates page and refer to the Federal Government Resource Hub for broader information about impacts from the federal shutdown.
“We will keep you updated as things evolve,” states Fairfax County officials.
