The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP),
formerly known as food stamps program, helps low-income individuals and
families buy food and meet their families' nutritional needs. SNAP is a federal program administered by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture. Benefits are issued through Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, like an ATM card, that can be used in place
of cash to buy food as a supplement to the family's food budget. The EBT cards are accepted at most grocery stores.
Applicants to the program must be residents of the city of Richmond, meet income and resource guidelines and have identification.
To apply for foods stamps:
Visit one of the three Social Services locations.
- Marshall Plaza Building
- Southside Community Service Center
- East District Center
I’ve lost my Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. How do I get a new one?
If an EBT card is lost, stolen or damaged, the cardholder can call the toll free, 24-hour Virginia EBT Customer Service Help Line at
(866)281-2448. After verifying the identity and address of the cardholder, the original card will be deactivated and a new one issued.
If the cardholder’s address has changed, the cardholder must notify RDSS of the address change by calling 311 or their Benefit Program S
pecialist. To obtain a new card in an emergency, contact
Richmond Department of Social Services by calling 311 or visiting a service location.
How do I check the balance available on my EBT card?
To check the balance available on the EBT card to make food purchases, cardholders can call the customer service line at (866)281-2448 and
enter the 16 digits on the front of the card. At the point of purchase, some stores will allow the cardholder to swipe the card, enter the
PIN and check the available balance. Cardholders can also access their balance and transaction history online by selecting
"Virginia" and logging in or creating an account.
Where do I send the information verifying my application for SNAP?
If you were instructed to send additional information for your application, please send copies in an envelope, with the name of your
Benefit Program Specialist, if known, to
900 E. Marshall St.
Richmond, VA 23219
Nondiscrimination Statement
In accordance with Federal law and the
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy, this
institution is prohibited from
discriminating in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where
applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political
beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program.
(Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of
program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).
To file a complaint of discrimination, write
USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410
