Virginia EBT Card Balance
Program: SNAP · Administered by Virginia Department of Social Services
Updated August 2026
Virginia's food assistance program operates under the standard SNAP name, without a separate state brand, and is administered by the Virginia Department of Social Services. Approved households receive their monthly SNAP allotment on an EBT card, which works like a prepaid debit card at authorized grocery stores and retailers statewide.
How to Check Your Virginia EBT Balance
Check online
Log in with your card number to view your balance and transaction history.
https://www.connectebt.comUse the mobile app
ConnectEBT is the official app for Virginia EBT cardholders, available on iOS and Android.
Check your last receipt
Your remaining balance is printed at the bottom of the receipt from your most recent EBT purchase.
Where You Can Use Your Virginia EBT Card
Your EBT card works like a debit card at any USDA-authorized retailer nationwide — major grocery chains and big-box stores such as Walmart, Target, Kroger, Costco, Sam's Club, Aldi, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, and most local and regional supermarkets, plus many convenience stores and farmers markets. A growing number of retailers, including Walmart.com and Amazon, also accept SNAP EBT for online grocery orders in many areas, though delivery and service fees usually can't be paid with benefits.
SNAP benefits cover food and food-producing seeds or plants, but not hot prepared foods, alcohol, tobacco, or non-food items — some states also restrict specific items like soda or candy, noted below if it applies to Virginia.
Virginia operates a SNAP Restaurant Meals Program. Eligible elderly, disabled, or homeless SNAP participants (and their spouses) can use their EBT card to buy prepared meals at participating restaurants statewide.
Virginia SNAP Income Limits
The federal government sets the standard SNAP gross income limit at 130% of the Federal Poverty Level. Virginia has adopted Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility (BBCE), which extends that limit to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level for most applicant households.
This higher threshold allows more working families and individuals with moderate incomes to qualify for SNAP in Virginia, and it generally removes the separate asset or savings limit that would otherwise apply under the federal baseline rules.
| Household Size | Max Monthly Gross Income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $2,660 |
| 2 | $3,607 |
| 3 | $4,553 |
| 4 | $5,500 |
| 5 | $6,447 |
| 6 | $7,393 |
| 7 | $8,340 |
| 8 | $9,287 |
For each additional household member beyond 8, add about $947/month. Based on 2026 federal poverty guidelines at 200% — figures update annually and individual eligibility depends on more than gross income, so confirm your exact amount with Virginia Department of Social Services.
EBT Fraud & Card Skimming Protection
Protect your benefits from theft
Card skimming and cloning schemes targeting SNAP EBT cards have affected households nationwide. Federal law temporarily let states reimburse stolen benefits using federal funds, but that authority lapsed at the end of 2024 and has not been reinstated, so recently stolen benefits generally cannot be replaced the way they once were.
Virginia's EBT Client Customer Service Helpdesk at 1-866-281-2448 handles both balance inquiries and reports of stolen or compromised benefits, and is available 24 hours a day. The state has also warned that Virginia EBT will never call or text asking for your PIN or card number. Protect your account by keeping your PIN private, checking your balance often, and changing your PIN if you notice any unfamiliar activity.
Virginia-Specific EBT Information
Virginia is rolling out new chip-enabled SNAP EBT cards statewide from September through December 2026, replacing the older magnetic-stripe-only cards specifically to reduce fraud; existing balances carry over automatically, and cardholders will tap or insert their new card instead of swiping.