Frequently Asked Questions | Augusta County, VA

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How do I Apply for TANF, SNAP, Medicaid, Child Care, Energy Assistance?

You can apply for benefits through the following ways:

commonhelp.virginia.gov

Common Help

apply for benefits electronically online

AND report changes

TANF, SNAP, Medicaid, Energy Assistance and Child Care

1-855-635-4370

Enterprise Customer Service

apply for benefits over the phone

TANF, SNAP, Medicaid

1-855-242-8282

Cover Virginia

apply over the phone AND report changes

Medicaid

How long will it take before I'm approved?

Please note the following benefit program application processing details:

SNAP
If your SNAP application is expedited, your application should be processed within 7 days. If your application is non-expedited and you have provided the required verifications, you should either have your SNAP benefits or receive a denial notice within 30 days from the date you filed your application. To learn about SNAP benefits and EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) Cards, please visit dss.virginia.gov, Assistance, Food Assistance and/or EBT.

TANF
Applications for TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), Diversionary Assistance and TANF Emergency Services Assistance should be processed within 30 of the date you applied, if you have provided all required verifications.

Medicaid
Medical Assistance (Medicaid) applications should be processed within 45 days of your application submission, if you have provided all necessary verifications.

Child Care
Applications for Child Care Subsidy assistance should be processed within 30 days of your application submission. During that time, you may be required to participate in an interview and provide documentation of basic eligibility requirements.

If you have not done so, you are encouraged to create a CommonHelp account which will allow you to follow the status of your application and upload verifications that may be needed to determine your eligibility for benefit programs.

How do I make a Fraud Referral?

How Do I Report Child Abuse?

How Do I report Adult Abuse?

I lost my EBT/SNAP Card, how do I get a new one?

To obtain a new SNAP/EBT card, please call your worker and leave a voicemail with your name, your SNAP case number, and a message that you need a new EBT card. Specify if you want to pick it up at the agency or have it mailed to you. If you choose to have it mailed, please provide your current mailing address. Your worker will call you back within 2 business days to confirm when you can come pick up the card. Remember to bring your ID when you pick up your card. *Remember there is a $2.00 fee to replace an EBT card. This fee will be taken from your EBT balance.

I lost my TANF card, how do I get a new one?

I lost my Medicaid Card, how do I get a new one?

I lost my Child Care card, how do I get a new one?

Please call your worker and leave a voicemail with your name, your Child Care case number and a message that you need a new Child Care card. Please provide your current mailing address in your voicemail. Specify if you want to pick it up at the agency or have it mailed to you. If you choose to have it mailed, please provide your current mailing address. Your worker will call you back within 2 business days to confirm when you can come pick up the card. Remember to bring your ID when you pick up your card.

When can I apply for EAP?

Energy Assistance is offered in the following ways:

Fuel Assistance helps with home heating costs but can also be used for furnace re-starts, late charges, delivery charges, installation charges, and connection or re-connection fees. It runs from mid-December through the end of March each year, but applications are only accepted the 2nd Tuesday in October through the 2nd Friday in November.

Crisis Assistance helps with emergency heating needs and has 2 phases. Phase 1 helps with the cost of repairing or replacing heating equipment and utility deposits; it runs November 1st - March 15th. Phase 2 includes Phase 1 and also helps with heating utility bill disconnects or low heating fuel; it runs January 1st - March 15th. You can apply for Phase 1 and Phase 2 during the program dates as stated above.

Cooling Assistance helps with cooling equipment repairs or purchases and with payment of the electric bill to operate cooling equipment. It runs June 15th - August 15th. Applications are accepted June 15th - August 15th and must have a vulnerable household member (child under six years of age, 60 years or older and/or disabled individual) to be eligible.

Be aware that exact dates to apply can vary slightly from year to year.

What is the amount on my EBT card?

Can I come in and get an EBT Card?

How do I get to your office

Our Verona office is located in the Augusta County Government Center Complex, at 68 Dick Huff Lane, Verona, VA.

From the North: Harrisonburg, Winchester & Washington D.C.
From all points North, on Interstate 81, take Exit 227, Verona. Merge onto Laurel Hill Road (Route 612). At the second traffic light, turn left onto Lee Highway (Route 11). At the next traffic light, turn left into the Government Center complex.

From the South: Staunton, Waynesboro, Charlottesville, Roanoke
From all points South, on Interstate 81, take Exit 225, Woodrow Wilson Parkway. Turn left onto Woodrow Wilson Parkway (Route 275). At the first traffic light, turn right onto Lee Highway (Route 11). At the second light, turn right into the Government Center complex.

Our Waynesboro Office is located at 1200 Shenandoah Ave., Waynesboro, VA.
From all points West, on Interstate 64, take Exit 96, turn left onto Delphine Ave (Route 624), travel approximately 2.2 and turn right onto Shenandoah Avenue. Our office is .3 miles, on the left.

From the East: Afton, Crozet, Charlottesville
From all points East, on Interstate 64, take Exit 96, turn right onto Delphine Ave, (Route 624), travel approximately 2.2 and turn right onto Shenandoah Avenue. Our office is .3 miles, on the left.

Bus Route - You can find the transit schedule on BRITE’s Website to view the transit schedule

How do I get help filling out an application?

You can get assistance in the following ways to help you complete an application for benefits. You can call the Enterprise Customer Service Center at 1-855-635-4370 to complete an application for TANF, SNAP, Medicaid, Child Care and/or Energy Assistance or you may call Cover Virginia at 1-855-242-8282 to complete a Medicaid application. If you would prefer to receive assistance to complete an application via paper or electronically, you may do so at either of our office locations during our normal hours of operation. If you know you will need assistance, you are strongly encouraged to call our main number to request an appointment time for a staff member to assist you. For our Waynesboro Office Location, please call 540-942-6646; for our Verona office location, please call or 540-245-5800.

How do I turn in documents to a worker?

How do I register to vote?

Do you have a place for me to donate things?

We are no longer able to accept donated items, due to a lack of storage space. We sincerely appreciate your willingness to provide to those in need. We would like to suggest: LOVE, Inc., Salvation Army, Goodwill, and / or the Valley Mission; all of these community agencies have thrift stores where you may donate items.

While we no longer accept item donations, we do accept tax deductible cash and check donations. Please make checks payable to Shenandoah Valley Social Services. Donations can be mailed to Shenandoah Valley Social Services, Attention: Charitable Donations, Accounting Dept., P.O. Box 7, Verona, VA, 24482. A receipt will be issued and mailed to you for taxable purposes. These funds are used for individuals, children, adults, elderly, and / or families in need and experiencing extenuating circumstances.

How do I become a foster parent?

You must be at least 18 years of age or older to be approved as a foster parent. Individuals and/or couples must have the time and energy to give a child and must meet all approval requirements.

Steps in the process include:

Successfully complete pre-service training, to include online and in class training sessions
Complete a Mutual Family Assessment
Participate in at least (3) face-to-face interviews
Submit national Fingerprint Criminal Record check, a Child Abuse and Neglect Registry check and a DMV check
Provide physician's report verifying that you are physically and mentally capable of caring for a child
Submit the names of three references

For more information or to start the process, contact Shenandoah Valley Social Services at 245-5800, visit our website ResourceFamily or on Facebook at SVSSAdoptionResource.