The V.I. Department of Human Service announced Thursday that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Households who failed to recertify by March 30 will not receive any benefits on their EBT cards on April 1.
D.H.S. Commissioner Kimberley Causey-Gomez said, “DHS is dedicated to providing support to our Virgin Islands families; however, this requires the Head of Household to complete the federal mandatory requirements for you to receive SNAP benefits timely."
According to the release, the federal Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) requires Periodic Reports and recertification of SNAP Households. SNAP Head of Households received notification of their requirement to submit their recertification application packages one month before the month their SNAP eligibility expires. Over 1,000 Households whose SNAP Eligibility expires in March 2022 did not return their recertification application packages to DHS. Additionally, hundreds of Households who returned their applications had missing required support documents and other deficiencies.
DHS said it has submitted a Waiver Request to FNS to extend the certification of those SNAP Households, who were not recertified by the deadline, for an additional 30 days.
"If FNS approves our Waiver Request by today, March 31, 2022, we will be able to issue April SNAP benefits on the EBT Cards by April 5, 2022," D.H.S. said. "Because we realize families and individuals will be adversely affected without their SNAP benefits, we have taken the steps to submit the Waiver Request. However, these Households whose SNAP eligibility expired in March must return your complete Recertification Application Packets by or before Sunday, April 10, 2022. Remember, the Head of Household must sign the application and enclose all required copies of support documents in the envelope.
If you have already submitted your recertification application and do not receive your April SNAP benefits on April 1, you should immediately contact your caseworker either by phone or email to inquire what additional information or corrections are needed, according to D.H.S. Failure to take these actions will delay your April SNAP issuance and you will not receive any SNAP benefits for May 2022.
Ms. Causey-Gomez reminds all SNAP households who received notification to submit their recertification application packages in April to immediately submit them to your respective District’s SNAP Office.
You can return your packet or contact the SNAP office in your District by the following options:
St. Croix:
• Drop box located at DHS Mars Hill office
• Mail: DHS, Division of Family Assistance, #4102 Mars Hill, Frederiksted, VI 00840-3376
• E-Mail: [email protected]
• Fax: (340) 772-9591
• Phone: (340) 772-7100 (for inquiries)
St. Thomas/Water Island:
• Drop box located at DHS Hospital Ground office
• Mail: DHS, Division of Family Assistance, #1303 Hospital Ground, Suite 1, St. Thomas VI 00802-6722
• E-Mail: [email protected]
• Fax: (340) 777-5449
• Phone: (340) 774-0930 or (340) 774-2399 (for inquiries)
St. John:
• Drop box located at DHS Multi-Purpose Building, Cruz Bay
• Mail: DHS, Division of Family Assistance, #1303 Hospital Ground, Suite 1, St. Thomas VI 00802-6722
• E-Mail: [email protected]
• Fax: (340) 777-5449
• Phone: (340) 776-6335 or (340) 776-6334 (for inquiries)
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