Virginia government assistance programs — VDSS benefits guide
This guide explains what the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) offers residents across the commonwealth — how each program works, who it is designed to help, and how to apply. Programs covered include SNAP food benefits, TANF cash assistance and the VIEW employment program, Cardinal Care Medicaid, FAMIS health coverage for children, the Child Care Subsidy Program, the Virginia Energy Assistance Program, Auxiliary Grants for certain low-income individuals in assisted living, and General Relief for households that fall outside other eligibility categories.
This page covers all aspects of the benefit system. Virginia has a delivery structure that sets it apart from most states. The commonwealth operates 133 local departments of social services — not one per county, but one for each county and each independent city. That means residents of Richmond, Virginia Beach, Alexandria, and other independent cities have their own local DSS that handles their cases directly, rather than routing through a surrounding county office. Programs and eligibility rules are set at the state and federal level, but intake, case management, and ongoing casework all happen locally.
The VDSS Enterprise Call Center is 1-855-635-4370. For general inquiries, the main VDSS number is (804) 726-7000
SNAP food assistance — monthly grocery benefits and significant rule changes in effect
SNAP provides monthly food benefits loaded onto an EBT card — branded in Virginia as the EBT card, accepted at authorized grocery stores and many farmers markets statewide. Benefit amounts are determined by household size, income, and allowable expenses; housing costs and dependent care can affect the calculation in ways that increase what a household qualifies for. Applications and case management run through local DSS offices or online via CommonHelp at https://commonhelp.virginia.gov/
SNAP work requirements now apply to a broader range of adults. Able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) ages 18 through 64 — the upper age was previously 55 — must meet an activity requirement of at least 80 hours per month of work, training, or other approved activities to avoid being limited to three months of SNAP in any three-year period. The exemption for parents applies only if a child under 14 lives in the household; it no longer applies automatically for parents of children ages 14 through 17.
Expense verification now requires documentation. In the past, applicants could attest to housing costs, utilities, and other expenses verbally. Now, paperwork must be provided. When applying, applicants receive a Verification Checklist explaining what is needed and have at least 10 days to gather and submit documents.
Households facing a genuine food emergency with almost no income or food money can request expedited processing, which is designed to return a decision within seven days — tell the caseworker the situation is urgent at the time of application.
TANF cash assistance — monthly funds for families, with a Virginia time limit stricter than federal rules
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families provides monthly cash payments to low-income families with children to help meet basic needs — rent, utilities, food, clothing, transportation, and other household expenses. Unlike SNAP, TANF cash is not restricted to any particular use. Single parents, two-parent households, and caretaker relatives raising children who are not their own are all eligible to apply, as are pregnant women approaching their due date. See the NHPB guide to cash assistance in Virginia.
Virginia's TANF program has one of the stricter state time limits in the country. Federal rules allow up to 60 months of TANF cash assistance over a lifetime; Virginia caps ongoing assistance at 24 months under state code. Adults who are able to work are required to participate in the VIEW program — Virginia's workforce component — as a condition of receiving benefits. Emergency assistance is also available through TANF for eligible families facing an immediate crisis such as eviction or fire damage, regardless of how many months of ongoing assistance they have used.
TANF-UP is a parallel track for two-parent households where both parents are able-bodied and one is unemployed — a category most state TANF programs do not serve separately. Both TANF and TANF-UP participants are connected to VIEW through their local DSS.
Employment support for TANF recipients — Virginia Initiative for Education and Work (VIEW)
VIEW is VDSS's mandatory workforce program for TANF and TANF-UP recipients who are able to work. Participation is a condition of receiving cash assistance for most adults. VIEW connects participants with job readiness training, education support including GED preparation, and employment placement through a partnership with Virginia's workforce development system.
VIEW has two practical employment tracks beyond job placement. The Full Employment Program (FEP) is a subsidized employment option in which VDSS funds local DSS offices to place VIEW participants in private-sector jobs, with the subsidy covering a portion of the wage cost while the participant earns a paycheck. The Community Work Experience Program (CWEP) is for participants with little or no formal work history — it places them in unpaid positions at public agencies or nonprofits to build skills and a work record before moving to paid employment. Both tracks are available through the local DSS that manages the TANF case.
Health coverage for adults — Cardinal Care (Virginia Medicaid)
Virginia's Medicaid program is called Cardinal Care and is administered by the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS). Eligibility, however, is determined by local DSS — which means residents apply through CommonHelp or their local social services office, not directly through DMAS. Coverage under Cardinal Care includes primary and preventive care, hospital services, prescription drugs, behavioral health, dental, and long-term care services, with specific benefits varying by eligibility category.
Virginia expanded Medicaid under the ACA in January 2019, extending coverage to adults ages 19 through 64 who meet income requirements. Cardinal Care delivers coverage through a managed care structure. To apply: commonhelp.virginia.gov or the Cover Virginia Call Center at 833-522-5582, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to noon.
A Foster Care Specialty Plan, administered by Anthem HealthKeepers Plus, covers youth in foster care, those receiving adoption assistance, and former foster youth under age 26 statewide — a new addition as of July 2025.
Health coverage for children and teens — FAMIS
FAMIS — the Family Access to Medical Insurance Security plan — is Virginia's implementation of the federal Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). It provides low-cost or no-cost health and dental coverage to children under age 19 in families that earn too much to qualify for standard Medicaid but cannot afford private insurance. FAMIS members can use the Cardinal Care enrollment system to compare managed care plans and select coverage, the same enrollment broker previously available only to Medicaid members.
Coverage includes well-child visits, immunizations, dental and vision care, behavioral health services, and other medically necessary treatment. Children in households already receiving SNAP or TANF may qualify automatically through categorical eligibility — a caseworker can confirm. Apply through CommonHelp at https://commonhelp.virginia.gov/ or by contacting your local DSS.
Help paying for child care — Child Care Subsidy Program
The Child Care Subsidy Program helps income-eligible families pay for licensed child care so parents can work, attend school, or participate in job training. Families receiving TANF who are engaged in VIEW employment activities are typically connected to child care assistance as part of their case plan — the two programs are designed to work together, since employment participation depends on having care in place. For families not on TANF, eligibility is based on income.
Subsidy payments go directly to the licensed provider; depending on income, families may pay a co-payment. Parents can generally choose any legally operating, licensed child care facility that participates in the subsidy program, including approved home care settings. A waitlist may apply, so applying early is advisable. Apply through CommonHelp or your local DSS. Or see the NHPB guide to free daycare in Virginia for other details on the benefit.
Utility and energy bill help — Virginia Energy Assistance Program
The Virginia Energy Assistance Program is VDSS's administration of the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). It helps low-income households pay home heating and cooling bills and can intervene in energy emergencies. The program has several components: ongoing fuel assistance for heating costs, cooling assistance during extreme heat, crisis assistance when a shutoff is imminent and no other resources are available, and the Percentage of Income Payment Program (PIPP), which sets a household's electric bill at a percentage of income and forgives past balances when participants pay on time.
Crisis assistance can cover costs such as emergency fuel delivery, payment of an overdue utility bill to prevent disconnection, repair or replacement of failed heating equipment, and utility security deposits in some circumstances. Applications run through local DSS offices. The program has limited funding and assistance is not guaranteed; applying early in the season and before a crisis develops improves outcomes significantly.
Income supplement for assisted living — Auxiliary Grants
Auxiliary Grants are a Virginia-specific income supplement for low-income individuals who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and certain other low-income elderly or disabled residents who live in a licensed Assisted Living Facility (ALF) or a local DSS-approved Adult Foster Care (AFC) home. An Auxiliary Grant is issued monthly alongside the resident's SSI payment to help cover the cost of their ALF or AFC placement, up to a maximum rate set by the Virginia General Assembly. It is not available to people living independently or in other settings. Contact your local DSS to ask whether a specific ALF or AFC placement is approved and whether a household member may qualify.
Local assistance for those who don't fit elsewhere — General Relief
General Relief (GR) is a locally administered program available through local DSS offices across Virginia. It exists as a residual safety net — a source of assistance for people who have a genuine need but do not qualify for SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, or other mainstream programs. GR is funded and structured at the local level, which means what it covers and how much is available varies by jurisdiction. Assistance may include help with dental or medical costs not covered by other programs, burial expenses, emergency housing costs, and other needs on a case-by-case basis. Not all localities offer all types of General Relief, and funding is limited. Contact your local DSS directly to ask what is available in your area.
Nutrition support for women, infants, and young children — WIC
WIC provides monthly benefits for purchasing specific nutritious foods, along with nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and health care referrals. The program serves pregnant women, recently postpartum and breastfeeding women, infants, and children up to age five.
One important distinction for Virginia residents: WIC is administered by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), not VDSS. That means it runs through a separate statewide network of WIC clinics — local health departments and community health centers — on a completely separate application process from the DSS offices that handle SNAP, TANF, and FAMIS. Enrollment in SNAP, TANF, or Medicaid typically satisfies WIC's income eligibility requirement, but residents still need to apply separately through a WIC site. Find the nearest Virginia WIC clinic at https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/wic/ or call 800‑942‑5437.
How to apply statewide
The primary online application portal for SNAP, TANF, child care assistance, Medicaid, FAMIS, and energy assistance is CommonHelp, at https://commonhelp.virginia.gov/. Available around the clock, CommonHelp handles new applications, renewals, case status checks, income and household updates, and document submissions. For phone assistance, the VDSS Enterprise Call Center is 1-855-635-4370. For Medicaid and FAMIS specifically, the Cover Virginia Call Center is 833-5CALLVA (833-522-5582), open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to noon. General VDSS inquiries: (804) 726-7000.
In-person help is available at local DSS offices — one in each of Virginia's 95 counties and 38 independent cities. The full directory is at https://www.dss.virginia.gov/localagency/. When applying, bring photo ID, proof of Virginia residency, and income and expense documentation for everyone in the household. Most applications involve a follow-up interview; the caseworker can identify which documents are needed and screen the household for all programs it may qualify for at the same time.
Local county and city programs
Virginia's larger jurisdictions often layer additional social services on top of what VDSS offers statewide. Select a locality below for local office information and city- or county-specific resources.
Alexandria
Arlington
Chesapeake
Chesterfield County
Fairfax County
Hampton
Henrico County
Loudoun County
Newport News
Norfolk
Prince William County
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