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VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES INTRODUCTION

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Field offices for the USDA are responsible for authorizing retailers to accept SNAP benefits and are responsible for ensuring compliance of SNAP regulations by retailers. The Richmond Field Office (637) is responsible for Virginia localities. Contact information is:

Food and Nutrition Service, USDA

Telephone: (804) 287-1710 1606 Santa Rosa Road, Suite 239

Fax:

(804) 287-1726 Richmond, Virginia 23229-5014

D. PERSONNEL AND OFFICE OPERATIONS (7 CFR 272.4(a))

The local department must provide qualified employees necessary to take prompt action on all applications. Local employees who certify households for participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program must meet the same personnel standards as those used by the local agency for personnel who certify applicants for benefits under the federally aided public assistance programs. Only qualified local employees or contract staff may conduct the interview of applicant households required by Part II.D and determine the household's eligibility or ineligibility and the level of benefits. In addition, only authorized employees or agents of the state or locality, or a local issuing agency, without the ability to authorize SNAP or D-SNAP benefits, may issue EBT cards. These individuals will have update capability in the EBT administrative system. Eligibility staff are restricted to inquiry-only access to the EBT administrative system.

The local department must provide timely, accurate, and fair service to SNAP applicants and participants. Each local department must establish office procedures and operations that accommodate the needs of the populations it serves. The local department must not establish any policies, regulations, or rules that create barriers to accessing SNAP benefits. Populations with special needs may include households with members who are elderly or those who have disabilities, homeless households, and households with members who work during normal office hours. The local department must provide bilingual staff and interpreter services to households with limited English proficiency.

E. NONDISCRIMINATION

Federal law and the Virginia Human Rights Act, Virginia Code §2.2-2632 et seq., bar discrimination based on age, race, sex, disability, religious creed, national origin, and political belief. The following civil rights laws apply for SNAP: • The Age Discrimination Act of 1975, 42 U.S.C. §6101 et seq. • Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. §794 • The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. §12101 et seq. • Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §2000d et seq.

Virginia has established procedures to ensure fair and equitable treatment of applicants and recipients of public assistance. The local department of social services must assure that no person will be subjected to discrimination on the grounds of age, race, color, sex, disability, religious creed, national origin, or political belief.

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