Due to Glenn Youngkin’s declaration of a state of emergency, Virginia will be able to issue Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance (VENA) to SNAP customers in November during the federal government shutdown. Virginia is the first state in the nation to use emergency funds to deliver food assistance to SNAP households while the federal program is paused.
so that normal distributions from the federal government can resume as soon as the shutdown ends.
These weekly benefits will be issued based on the day of the month customers usually receive SNAP payments. Beginning November 3:
- Customers who regularly receive their SNAP benefits on the 1st of the month will receive weekly VENA benefits on Mondays.
- Customers who regularly receive their SNAP benefits on the 4th of the month will receive weekly VENA benefits on Wednesdays.
- Customers who regularly receive their SNAP benefits on the 7th of the month will receive weekly VENA benefits on Fridays.