Virginians deserve to understand how federal policy is affecting their communities in real time. Publishing this data reflects our commitment to transparency — this information is being provided as we receive it. Changes may occur along the way, but we aim to inform and help families, service providers and state and local leaders to plan and prepare for potential impacts and changes that may occur over time.

We believe an informed public is better positioned to navigate these changes when they are able to access available resources and information about programs that support health, nutrition and economic stability.

The dashboards show county- and city-level data on how recent federal policy changes may affect programs such as SNAP and Virginia Medicaid, including the new federal work requirement for Medicaid Expansion members. They include current enrollment information and projections based on federal and state data. These projections reflect potential impacts under current policy assumptions and may change as implementation details evolve.

The dashboards will be updated monthly as new program and administrative data become available. The frequency of updates may vary depending on the data source.

The Commonwealth is committed to maintaining accurate and timely information so Virginians can access the most current data available.

No. Virginia did not choose these changes. These changes are a result of federal action taken by the federal Department of Health and Human Services. But we are responsible for implementing them with care and with a clear focus on the people we serve.

The eligibility restrictions, work requirement expansions and federal cost shifts are all requirements of federal law. Every state is required to comply.

Where federal law gives Virginia discretion — such as optional hardship exemptions for Medicaid — we are actively evaluating every option to protect coverage for high-need populations.

The populations most impacted by H.R. 1 changes to SNAP and Medicaid include individuals subject to the new Medicaid work requirement, expanded work requirements under SNAP, and certain noncitizens.

Medicaid

The new work requirement under H.R. 1 applies only to Medicaid Expansion adults — individuals ages 19 to 64 with incomes at or below 138% of the federal poverty level, approximately $21,597 per year for an individual — who do not qualify for an exemption.

Noncitizen eligibility will also change significantly on October 1, 2026. On or after October 1, 2026, eligibility for non-pregnant adults will be limited to Lawful Permanent Residents, Compact of Free Association (COFA) migrants, and Cuban and Haitian entrants. Note that Amerasians and individuals with Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs) automatically receive Lawful Permanent Resident status.

SNAP

Noncitizen eligibility under H.R. 1 limits SNAP eligibility to U.S. citizens and nationals, Lawful Permanent Residents, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and COFA nation citizens. Refugees and asylees who were previously eligible will lose eligibility.

H.R. 1 expands the SNAP Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents work requirement by raising the maximum age subject to the requirement from 55 to 65 and lowering the age of a dependent child that exempts a caregiver from 18 to 14.

The Commonwealth’s main commitment is helping individuals successfully navigate these new requirements. Through partnerships with employers, workforce agencies, educational institutions, and community organizations, we are working to ensure Virginians have access to the resources, opportunities, and support needed to meet requirements and maintain access to critical benefits whenever possible.

• The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) and Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) are partnering with community organizations across the Commonwealth to provide timely information, outreach and support.
• Efforts include updating website resources, community partner engagement and coordination with local departments of social services and health care partners.
• DMAS is adopting and building upon proven strategies including enhanced automation, electronic data verification, building capacity using Cover Virginia, and conducting proactive outreach through managed care partners. DMAS is also taking up all optional hardship exemptions available to states under the law.
• Both agencies are developing resources to assist members and translating these materials into the top five languages spoken by members.
• VDSS has published a dedicated resource page at dss.virginia.gov/relief/eligibilitychangeresources.
• DMAS has a dedicated resource page for H.R.1 Medicaid changes.

From June 2025 to June 2026, SNAP participation in Virginia declined by ~135,000 participants.

This decline reflects multiple contributing factors. Stricter eligibility rules for non-citizens and the expansion of work requirements under Public Law 119-21 have directly reduced the number of qualifying households. Beyond policy changes, a growing climate of fear within immigrant and mixed-status communities has discouraged eligible families from applying or continuing to participate — particularly amid concerns that personal identifying information shared with HHS may not remain confidential and could be accessed by federal immigration authorities. Together, these forces are compounding food insecurity across Virginia, leaving more families without critical nutrition support as a direct result of both federal policy shifts and the chilling effect of an uncertain regulatory environment.

No. There are no across-the-board cuts to SNAP benefit amounts. What is changing is who qualifies for those benefits — not how much eligible households receive. Benefits continue to be calculated using the same long-standing federal formulas.

The average monthly SNAP benefit per Virginia household is $324.

Public Law 119-21 restricts SNAP eligibility for non-citizens. Individuals who previously qualified as lawfully present non-citizens — including refugees, asylees, VAWA self-petitioners, certain trafficking survivors, and parolees — are now ineligible unless they obtain lawful permanent resident, or green card, status.

Eligibility is now limited to U.S. citizens; lawful permanent residents after a five-year waiting period; Cuban and Haitian entrants who are eligible immediately; and Compact of Free Association citizens who are eligible immediately.

These are federal rules that Virginia is required to apply consistently and uniformly.

The law significantly expands the population of Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents, or ABAWDs, who must meet work requirements to maintain SNAP eligibility.

Key changes include:

• The upper age limit for ABAWDs has been raised from 55 to 64, meaning more adults are now subject to the 80-hour-per-month work or training requirement.
• The child exemption has been narrowed: only adults living with a child under age 14 are now exempt. Adults with children aged 14–17 may now be classified as ABAWDs.
• Exemptions previously available to individuals experiencing homelessness, certain veterans, youth aging out of foster care and individuals with non-disabling health limitations have been eliminated.
• States have less authority to waive ABAWD time limits based on local unemployment conditions.

ABAWDs who do not meet the 80-hour monthly requirement face a three-month time limit on benefits within a 36-month period. Virginia is committed to helping participants understand these requirements and connect with qualifying work, training or volunteer opportunities.

Virginia is taking a proactive and coordinated approach to helping individuals understand and successfully meet any new federal work requirements that are implemented.

In addition to providing clear information and customer support, VDSS is working with employers, workforce development organizations, educational institutions, community-based organizations, volunteer networks, and local partners to identify and expand opportunities that may help individuals satisfy applicable requirements.

These efforts are focused on connecting individuals with meaningful pathways to employment, job training, education, workforce readiness services, and qualifying community engagement opportunities.

The Commonwealth recognizes that many individuals may face barriers related to transportation, caregiving responsibilities, health conditions, technology access, or workforce availability, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

By proactively engaging employers and community partners, Virginia is working to build a strong network of opportunities that can support individuals in maintaining eligibility while also advancing longer-term goals related to employment, skills development, and economic mobility.

Possibly not. The law has narrowed several exemptions that previously protected specific groups. If you previously qualified for an exemption based on homelessness, being a certain type of veteran, aging out of foster care, or having a non-disabling health condition, you should contact your local department of social services immediately to understand your current status.

If you believe you qualify for an exemption that is still available, you can self-identify applicable exemptions when responding to notices. You should have received — or will receive — a SNAP Work Requirement Consolidated Information Notice by mail with full details.

Under the new law, customers must provide documentary proof of deductible expenses. Verbal statements are no longer accepted. Required verification includes:

• Dependent care, including child, adult or disability care: receipt from care provider
• Shelter costs, including rent, insurance and taxes: rent receipt or landlord contact via caseworker
• Utilities, including electricity, water, gas and phone: bill, statement, or written landlord statement
• Medical expenses: medical bill, insurance statement, or pharmacy receipt

This applies to new applications, Interim Reports, and recertifications. You will receive a Verification Checklist and have a minimum of 10 days to submit the required documents.

The application and recertification process itself has not changed. Households will continue to complete the same forms, provide the same verification, and follow the same timelines. The significant change is the documentation now required for expense deductions.

We recognize that gathering documentation can be a barrier for some families, particularly those experiencing housing instability or without reliable access to records. Caseworkers are available to help, and the minimum 10-day window is designed to give families adequate time to respond.

The Commonwealth encourages collaboration from employers, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, workforce development partners, and community organizations interested in supporting affected Virginians.

Organizations can play an important role by providing employment opportunities, skills training, volunteer placements, supportive services, or referral pathways that help individuals successfully navigate program requirements.

As implementation planning continues, Virginia is working closely with partners across sectors to identify opportunities for engagement and ensure communities are prepared to support residents affected by these changes.

Beginning January 1, 2027, federal law will require certain adults applying for or enrolled in Medicaid Expansion coverage to meet a new work requirement. This requirement affects people who apply for Medicaid after January 1, 2027 and meet the requirements for the Medicaid Expansion program and those who are currently enrolled in Medicaid Expansion.

It does not apply to children, pregnant or postpartum individuals, adults with certain disabilities or adults age 65 and older. Certain exemptions also apply. Members and new applicants will be determined exempt from or subject to the work requirement, and some may need to take action to report their exemption or compliance, beginning January 1, 2027. DMAS and DSS are working to help eligible individuals access or maintain coverage and provide clear information ahead of these changes.

To enroll in or renew Medicaid Expansion coverage, beginning January 2027, members and certain new applicants must show they meet one of the following each month:

• Work, attend school at least half-time, participate in a work program, and/or perform community service for at least 80 hours per month
• Be enrolled at least half-time in an education or training program, including higher education, career or technical education, and high school or GED programs
• Have monthly income of at least $580, equivalent to 80 hours at the federal minimum wage, or, for seasonal workers, at least $580 per month over a six-month period
• Qualify for an exemption based on age, disability, medical needs, caregiving, pregnancy or certain other circumstances

Virginia is committed to helping eligible Virginians navigate these new requirements and connect to needed resources.

Many Medicaid Expansion members will qualify for an exemption from the new federal work requirement under H.R. 1. Exemptions apply to individuals who are:

• Blind or disabled, including SSI or SSDI recipients
• Pregnant or within 12 months after the end of a pregnancy
• A parent or caregiver of a child age 13 or younger, or of a person of any age with a disability
• A veteran with a 100% disability rating
• Formerly in foster care and age 25 or younger
• Incarcerated or released from incarceration within the last three months
• Have a substance use disorder or are enrolled in a substance use disorder treatment program
• Eligible for Medicare
• Have a serious or complex medical condition or serious mental health condition

Virginia will be implementing hardship exemptions for members who have been hospitalized or are receiving similar inpatient care, traveled for medical care, or live in areas under emergency declarations or with high unemployment. We will pursue every available option to protect coverage for high-need populations.

Under federal law, beginning January 2027, individuals applying for or renewing Medicaid Expansion must meet the new work requirement to access or maintain Medicaid coverage.

If we cannot determine that you have met this requirement, we will reach out to you for additional information. All individuals will be provided notice and an opportunity to respond prior to any disenrollment.

All Medicaid Expansion members will receive an initial letter that explains the new work requirement. Your managed care plans will also be reaching out with additional information.

We’re committed to helping eligible Virginians access and maintain coverage by providing time, support, and clear guidance to navigate this new requirement.

Virginia is committed to helping eligible individuals access and maintain coverage through Medicaid. To this end, Virginia is actively working on leveraging all available data sources to automatically determine compliance and exemptions as much as possible and reduce paperwork for individuals seeking coverage; training staff and building workforce capacity to help people navigate these changes; and engaging with health providers, health plans, and others to support member education and outreach, among other efforts.

In addition, Virginia is committed to providing the services and supports needed to help people meet the requirement. This includes:

• Connecting individuals to education, training, employment and volunteer opportunities in their communities
• Providing support services such as transportation assistance and childcare referrals
• Supporting pathways into careers that earn a living wage, not just short-term placements

More information is available here: Resources for Navigating Eligibility Changes - Virginia Department of Social Services.

Yes. All notices and member materials related to the new work requirement will be translated into the top five languages spoken by Virginia Medicaid members. Materials will also be made accessible to screen readers.

If you need assistance in your language, please contact Cover Virginia or your managed care plan for support.

H.R. 1, Public Law 119-21, includes major changes to Medicaid and SNAP that will require significant administrative costs to stand up. In addition, the law represents a historic shift in the federal-state funding relationship for SNAP funding generally:

• Administrative costs: Since SNAP’s inception, the federal government has paid 50% of administrative costs. Beginning October 1, 2026, the federal share drops to 25%, shifting the remaining 75% to states. For Virginia, this means approximately $93 million more per year in state-funded administrative costs.
• Benefit cost-sharing: Beginning October 1, 2027, Virginia will be required to contribute to the SNAP benefit amount based on payment error rates — a potential cost of more than $270 million per year if the Commonwealth does not meet new federal standards.

The Department of Social Services (DSS) spent $13.6 million in FY 2026 to begin implementing the SNAP changes required by H.R. 1. In FY 2027, DSS received $55.4 million for implementation, but an additional $69 million in identified needs went unfunded. In FY 2028, DSS is funded at $204.7 million, with another $147.5 million unfunded. The FY 2028 costs rise sharply because SNAP benefits will no longer be fully federally funded, and Virginia will bear a significant share of benefit costs for the first time.

The total estimated cost to implement Medicaid operational changes in the upcoming biennium, FY26–FY28, is $141.7 million. This estimate was developed prior to the release of the CMS interim final rule. Additional funding may be needed to ensure full compliance with the CMS guidance.

This is a federal decision that Virginia did not make but must absorb. The Spanberger administration is working with the General Assembly to identify the critical investments needed.

Virginia is committed to maintaining high-quality service delivery, but the federal cost shift creates real constraints. The dramatic reduction in federal support makes it harder to:

• Modernize aging eligibility systems
• Improve online and mobile access for applicants
• Offer competitive salaries to recruit and retain benefit program workers
• Reduce administrative burden for local departments of social services

Virginia’s legacy systems already require significant upgrades, and these improvements become more challenging at exactly the moment when modernization is most needed. We are being transparent about these risks because we believe the public deserves to understand the downstream impacts of these federal decisions.

H.R. 1 includes major changes to noncitizen eligibility for SNAP and Medicaid coverage.

For SNAP, refugees, asylees, Violence Against Women Act self-petitioners, certain human trafficking survivors, and parolees who previously qualified are now ineligible unless they obtain Lawful Permanent Resident, or Green Card, status.

For Medicaid, beginning October 1, 2026, eligibility for non-pregnant noncitizen adults will be limited to Lawful Permanent Residents, Compact of Free Association migrants, and Cuban and Haitian entrants — meaning many individuals who currently qualify, including parolees, conditional entrants, asylees, refugees, and others, will lose full Medicaid coverage.

We recognize that many of the individuals affected are among the most vulnerable in our communities — people who have already experienced trauma, displacement, and hardship. Virginians losing SNAP or Medicaid for any reason are encouraged to contact their local DSS, call 2-1-1, or reach out to the Federation of Virginia Food Banks at vafoodbanks.org/find-food for emergency food resources.

For SNAP, the expansion of the ABAWD age range to 64 means that adults aged 55–64 who were previously not subject to SNAP work requirements may now be required to meet an 80-hour-per-month work or training requirement to avoid a time limit on benefits.

For Medicaid, work requirements will only apply to individuals ages 19-64 who are applying for or renewing Medicaid Expansion coverage, unless an exemption applies. Exemptions will also apply to individuals with certain medical needs or disabilities, individuals who are parents or caregivers of children 13 years old or under or individuals of any age with a disability, individuals eligible for Medicare, among others. Additional information on exemptions from upcoming Medicaid work requirements is available here.

We recognize that older adults may face unique barriers to meeting work requirements and are committed to connecting individuals to supportive services. More information is available here: Resources for Navigating Eligibility Changes - Virginia Department of Social Services.

Individuals experiencing homelessness previously had an exemption from SNAP work requirements. That exemption has been eliminated under H.R.1.

For Medicaid, individuals experiencing homelessness are not automatically exempt from Medicaid work requirements. However, individuals may qualify for other exemptions that will be available, such as for individuals with disabilities, serious or complex medical conditions, substance use disorders, or serious mental health conditions, among others. Information on these and other exemptions is available here.

We are deeply concerned about the impact of this change on one of our most vulnerable populations. VDSS is actively engaging community partners — including food banks, shelters, and social service providers — to reach people experiencing homelessness and connect them with both work-qualifying opportunities and emergency food resources.

No one should lose food assistance because they lack stable housing.

Certain veterans previously held an exemption from SNAP work requirements. That exemption has been removed under the new law, meaning veterans who are able-bodied, between ages 18 and 64, and do not have a qualifying disability may now be subject to the 80-hour work requirement.

For Medicaid, veterans with a 100% disability rating will be exempt from the new Medicaid federal work requirement.

We believe veterans who have served this country deserve strong, reliable support. We are committed to connecting affected veterans with qualifying employment, training, and volunteer opportunities — and to ensuring they are aware of all available exemptions, including those related to disability ratings.

The exemption from SNAP work requirements for youth aged 18–24 who have aged out of foster care has been eliminated. These young adults often face significant barriers to stable employment, including limited work history, housing instability, and reduced family support networks.

For Medicaid, former foster care youth ages 25 or younger will be exempt from the new federal work requirement.

Virginia is committed to ensuring that young people aging out of foster care are actively connected to education, workforce training, and community engagement pathways so they are not caught off guard by these new requirements.

We strongly encourage Virginians to keep their mailing address and contact information up-to-date and to keep a look out for notices or mailings related to SNAP or Medicaid. Notices contain important information about your eligibility and deadlines to respond.

• If you received a SNAP Work Requirement Consolidated Information Notice, read it carefully. It includes an explanation of requirements, instructions for self-identifying exemptions, and information on how to regain eligibility after a time-limit period.
• For Medicaid, you may receive outreach or notices indicating new Medicaid work requirements may apply to you, or requests for information to determine your compliance or exemption. Please ensure you follow the requests in these notices and submit the needed information within the required window.
• If you disagree with a decision about your benefits, you have the right to appeal. Your notice will have instructions on how to file an appeal.

Help is available. A dedicated resource hub is available from the VDSS website to help you navigate these changes and connect to trusted statewide resources. For more information, visit dss.virginia.gov/relief/eligibilitychangeresources.

Individuals may be eligible for coverage through the State-based Marketplace. Individuals may apply at Virginia’s Insurance Marketplace.

Health services can also be accessed at low or no cost at clinics and health centers across the Commonwealth. For additional information, visit:

• vafreeclinics.org/clinics-in-virginia
• vcha.org/locations

Virginia has a robust network of food resources available regardless of SNAP eligibility:

• Federation of Virginia Food Banks: vafoodbanks.org/find-food
• Call 2-1-1 to be connected to local food pantries, meal programs, and other community resources
• Contact your local department of social services

No one should go hungry because of changes to federal policy. These community resources are here for you.

Community organizations play a critical role in reaching the Virginians most affected by these changes. VDSS and DMAS are actively seeking partnerships to:

• Connect SNAP participants and Medicaid members with information about their rights and available resources
• Provide or host qualifying work, training, volunteer, and community engagement opportunities
• Offer navigation support for people unfamiliar with the appeals and exemption processes
• Serve as trusted messengers for communities with limited access to government services, including immigrant and refugee communities

Organizations interested in partnering should contact VDSS or visit the agency resource page for community partner toolkits and training.

Virginia is committed to providing timely updates.

• SNAP resources and updates: visit dss.virginia.gov/relief/eligibilitychangeresources
• Medicaid resources and updates: visit dmas.virginia.gov/news-updates/new-federal-requirements/federal-work-requirements
• Call Cover Virginia at 1-855-242-8282, TTY 1-888-221-1590, or your local DSS for program-specific questions

We will be transparent about what we know, when we know it — and honest about what remains uncertain.