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SNAP CHANGE REPORTING, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND PENALTIES (READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY BEFORE SIGNING THIS APPLICATION)

You must report changes that occur for SNAP but, what you must report is tied to how long you are determined eligible for benefits, the certification period. You must report changes that occur during the certification period within 10 days, but no later than the 10th day of the month after the change occurs.

Changes that you need to report during the certification period for SNAP will depend on the length of the certification period. “Simplified Reporting” applies to households that are eligible for SNAP benefits for five (5) months or longer. “Change Reporting” applies to households that are eligible for one (1) month to four (4) months. Changes that need to be reported for each category are listed below.

INTERIM REPORT FILING In addition to reporting changes when they occur during the SNAP certification period, Simplified Reporting households may be required to submit an Interim Report in the sixth or twelfth month. The Interim Report is used to determine the amount of SNAP benefits households will receive for the second half of the certification period. The Interim Report provides a snapshot of household circumstances that were presented at the time of application. We will ask for proof of income changes and changes in legal obligations to pay child support. If households fail to return the completed Interim Report by the fifth of the month, SNAP benefits for the seventh or thirteenth month may be delayed or closed. Assistance for filing the Interim Report is available by calling the telephone number printed on the form.

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS – SIMPLIFIED REPORTING HOUSEHOLDS Certified five months or longer, households must report: • The number of work hours goes under 20 per week for anyone between the ages of 18-49 if there are no children in your SNAP household; • You have lottery or gambling winnings of $4,250 or more; or • All the income for your household, before taxes, goes over 130% of the Federal poverty level. See the Change Report or the Notice of Action for the amount or visit www.dss.virginia.gov.

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS – CHANGE REPORTING HOUSEHOLDS Certified four months or less), households must report: • There is a change in the number of people in your household; • Your address changes, including shelter expenses that change resulting from the move; • The obligation to pay child support changes or the amount paid to someone outside the household changes; • Your liquid resources, such as bank accounts, cash, bonds, etc. are $2,750 or $4,250 or more; • You have lottery or gambling winnings of $4,250 or more; • The number of work hours goes under 20 per week for anyone between the ages of 18-50 if there are no children in the home; or • There are changes in income: • There are income changes of more than $125 except, you do not have to tell us if your TANF income changes if your TANF case is in Virginia; • The source of your income changes, including if you start or stop a job; or • Your job switches from full-time to part-time or part-time to full-time.

SNAP RESPONSIBILITIES AND PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS You must not: • give false information or hide information to get SNAP benefits; • trade or sell EBT cards or attempt to trade or sell EBT cards; • use SNAP benefits to buy non-food items, such as alcohol, tobacco or paper products; • use someone else’s EBT card for your household; • buy an item and discard the contents in order to get the return deposit for the container; • resell a purchased product for cash or exchange a purchased product for consideration other than eligible food; or • purchase food on credit.

If you intentionally break any of these rules, you could be barred from getting SNAP benefits for 12 months (1st violation), 24 months (2nd violation), or permanently (3rd violation); fined up to $250,000, imprisoned up to 20 years, or both; and suspended for an additional 18 months and further prosecuted under other Federal and State laws.

If you intentionally give false information or hide information about identity or residence to get SNAP benefits in more than one locality at the same time, you could be barred for 10 years.

If you are convicted in court of trading or selling SNAP benefits of $500.00 or more, you could be barred permanently.

If you are convicted in court of trading SNAP benefits for a controlled substance, you could be barred for 24 months for the 1st violation, permanently for the 2nd violation.

If you are convicted in court of trading SNAP benefits for firearms, ammunition, or explosives, you could be barred permanently for the first violation.

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