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VDSS commissioner warns of SNAP participation drop and funding pressures
Summary
The Department of Social Services commissioner said SNAP participation in Virginia fell about 14% over 12 months and tied the decline to federal HR 1 changes (expanded work requirements, reduced exemptions) and to cuts in federal administrative cost sharing, warning of potential local staffing losses and new state fiscal obligations.
Commissioner Duke Storey of the Virginia Department of Social Services briefed the commission on a department report examining access to USDA-funded programs and outlined recommendations focused on seniors, college students and families with children. He emphasized outreach, technology modernization and multi-agency data-sharing as central strategies.
The commissioner raised a policy warning: "I just wanted to make you aware, that over the last 12 months, we have seen a 14% decline in the SNAP participation rate in the Commonwealth," he said, attributing the decline to several factors including the end of pandemic flexibilities and the expanded work requirements in HR 1. Storey also described an impending federal disinvestment in administrative costs — from covering 50% down to 25% — which he said translates into roughly a $94 million general-fund swing for Virginia and could create local gaps in eligibility-worker capacity. He suggested a state supplement for seniors and administrative investments for mobile outreach and CommonHelp modernization as possible responses.
Why it matters: decreased participation and new federal penalties for payment‑accuracy rates could increase state budget obligations and reduce local capacity to process applications, making planned administrative modernization and targeted outreach priorities for the commission.
