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Virginia EBT news
Reviewed Virginia-specific EBT and SNAP news items about benefit timing, eligibility, and program rules.
Updated on: October 11, 2026
Independent information tool. Not a government website.
Virginia DSS says that starting November 1, 2026, SNAP customers in Virginia will no longer be able to use SNAP benefits to buy carbonated sweetened beverages, including soda, diet soda, zero-sugar soda, carbonated energy drinks, and carbonated drinks with 5 grams of added sugar or more per serving.
Virginia began issuing new chip-enabled SNAP EBT cards in September 2026 and says all Virginia EBT customers will receive a new chip card by December 31, 2026. Customers should keep using their current card until the new card arrives; the old magnetic-stripe card will stop working when the new card is activated or 60 days after the new card is mailed.
Virginia DSS says that beginning November 1, 2026, SNAP benefits can no longer be used in Virginia to buy certain carbonated beverages with added sweeteners, including soda, diet soda, zero-sugar soda, carbonated energy drinks, and carbonated drinks with 5 grams of added sugar or more per serving. DSS says SNAP eligibility, benefit amount, and issuance schedule are not changing.
Starting November 1, 2026, SNAP customers in Virginia will no longer be able to use SNAP benefits to buy carbonated sweetened drinks, including soda, diet soda, zero-sugar soda, carbonated energy drinks, and carbonated drinks with added sugar or artificial sweeteners. Virginia says eligibility, benefit amounts, and issuance schedules are not affected.
Virginia began issuing new chip-enabled SNAP EBT cards in September 2026 and says all Virginia EBT customers will receive a new chip card by December 31, 2026. Customers are told to keep using their current card until the replacement arrives and to keep contact information updated to avoid problems receiving the new card.
Virginia began issuing new chip-enabled SNAP EBT cards in September 2026 to replace magnetic-stripe cards and reduce fraud. The governor’s office said a second round of card rollouts is scheduled to begin at the end of October, and all Virginia EBT cardholders are expected to receive new cards by December 31, 2026.
USDA lists Virginia’s SNAP food restriction waiver with an October 1, 2026 target implementation date. The waiver restricts purchase of “sweetened beverages” with SNAP benefits.
Virginia is issuing new chip-enabled SNAP EBT cards beginning September 2026 through December 2026. SNAP customers in 20 pilot localities are expected to receive chip cards by October 1, 2026; old magnetic-stripe cards automatically deactivate 60 days after the new card is mailed, even if the new card has not been activated.
USDA lists Virginia’s approved SNAP food restriction waiver with an October 1, 2026 target implementation date, restricting purchases of “sweetened beverages.” Virginia’s state SNAP Healthy FAQ says the customer-facing restriction on carbonated sweetened beverages starts November 1, 2026.
Starting October 1, 2026, SNAP customers in Virginia will no longer be able to use SNAP benefits to buy carbonated sweetened beverages, including soda, diet soda, “zero” soda, carbonated energy drinks, and carbonated drinks with at least 5 grams of added sugar per serving. Eligibility, monthly benefit amounts, and benefit schedules are not changing.
Virginia DSS says the deadline to apply for SUN Bucks 2026 is August 31, 2026. Benefits are loaded onto EBT or Virginia SUN Bucks cards, and unused funds expire about four months after issuance.
Virginia’s 2026 SUN Bucks application period ends August 31, 2026. Families not automatically enrolled must apply online, by mail, or by phone by that date; applications submitted after the cutoff are not for 2026 benefits.
Virginia says SUN Bucks 2026 applications will be processed through August 31, 2026; applications submitted after that date will be considered for Virginia SUN Bucks 2027 instead.
SNAP enrollment has dropped sharply in several Central Virginia localities, with Axios Richmond reporting declines through June 2026 and ongoing effects in July from federal SNAP eligibility and work-requirement changes.