RICHMOND, Va.(WTVR) – One month after the amount of money Virginians in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) received decreased, the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) put out a warning about another potential decrease.
“The amount of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits Virginia recipients receive each month may change beginning in January of 2014,” VDSS spokesman Joron Moore-Planter wrote in an email. “This potential change is due to the 1.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in the Social Security Administration (SSA) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. The COLA will automatically take effect on January 1, 2014.”
The COLA adjustment may not have an impact on benefits; however, in some cases, benefits may be reduced, Moore-Planter wrote.
In November federal stimulus money used to increase SNAP payments several years ago went away. That meant a family of four receiving maximum benefits lost $36 per month.
SNAP clients are encouraged to visit the Virginia Department of Social Services web siteor call the Virginia Department of Social Services at 1-800-552-3431.
