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Monday 8:30am - 5:30pm Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm Thursday 8:30am - 5pm Friday 8am - 5:30pm

Hanover County Department of Social Services

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Ashland, VA
Hanover County Department of Social Services

Providing HOPE: Helping Others, Promoting Empowerment

08/21/2026

FAQ Friday is here and one question we hear often is: "What's the difference between Social Services and Benefits?

While both are offered at Hanover DSS, they serve different purposes. Check out the graphic to learn more. ⬇

Services🤝may help when someone is experiencing a safety concern, family situation, housing need, or other circumstance requiring support or intervention. Benefits🤝provide financial assistance or coverage to help individuals and families meet basic needs, such as food, healthcare, and energy costs.

08/14/2026

Today's FAQ: What is EBT skimming?

📣Skimming vs. Scamming? skimming is when benefits are stolen off of your EBT card vs. scamming, which is when an individual targets you to steal your benefits under false pretenses. VDSS defines skimming as the "action of fraudulently copying EBT details with a card swipe or other device."

📣How does your agency know when your benefits have been skimmed? Your local agency is able to see recent transactions via Electronic Payment Processing and Information Control system (EPPIC). Oftentimes, skimming occurs out of state in the early hours of the morning, very shortly after benefits are issued on the card for the month.

📣How do I know if I've been skimmed? If you check your card balance and it's showing an unexpectedly low amount.

📣How can I protect myself? Download the Connect EBT app! It allows you to lock and unlock your card before and after each transaction. This is the only app operated by the Virginia Department of Social Services which is why it's the only app we recommend.
Additionally, you can:
🔒Limit online transactions
🔒Avoid self-checkouts
🔒Inspect point of sale machines for any evidence of tampering before swiping your EBT card

📣Local agencies are not allowed to reimburse any skimmed benefits. However, each locality often partners closely with local organizations and food banks to support our clients until the next month's benefits are issued.

08/07/2026

💬 FAQ FRIDAY: Will APS remove me from my home?

The goal of Adult Protective Services (APS) is not to remove older adults from their homes. While APS and Child Protective Services both focus on safety, APS respects the autonomy of adults and their right to make their own choices.

APS works with adults to identify resources and services that can help them remain safe in their own homes for as long as possible! 🏠

💬 What about housing?
Hanover County DSS can provide resource packets that include information about affordable housing, local agencies, and shelter assistance. However, Hanover County DSS does not directly provide or place older adults in housing.

Our goal is to connect individuals with available resources and support them in finding solutions that meet their needs. 🤝

07/31/2026

What are Virginia SUN bucks?

Virginia SUN Bucks is a federal food benefit program designed to reduce childhood hunger when school is not in session. Eligible children receive a one-time $120 food benefit to help families buy groceries during the summer.

Benefits are issued on:

A new 2026 SUN Bucks card, or
A household’s existing SNAP EBT card if the family participates in SNAP.

Many families receive this benefit automatically, while others must apply based on income eligibility.

For more information about the program and to see if you qualify, visit https://www.dss.virginia.gov/relief/food-assistance/sunbucks/

07/30/2026

Today is Virginia Intern Day and we want to recognize our VCU intern, Danette:

Danette Pelt is a recent graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Social Work. She became interested in the profession after a family friend's recommendation — and, as she puts it, "going down the YouTube rabbit hole."

“I fell in love with it instantly,” Pelt recalls. “I was enamored with the whole process and how much goes into it.”

Pelt was introduced to Hanover’s Department of Social Services (DSS) through the Child Welfare Stipend Program, a partnership between Virginia DSS and five Virginia universities that offers financial support and specialized training to students entering child welfare careers.

At Hanover DSS, Pelt accompanies full-time staff on home visits, observes court proceedings at Hanover Courthouse and gains real-world experience to complement what she learned in the classroom.

The internship has also given her the opportunity to learn directly from Hanover DSS staff. Pelt has interviewed employees in Adult Protective Services, benefits, permanency and other program areas.

“I appreciate the amount of information they have been giving in just 10 weeks,” she said. “I have two more semesters to go, and I can only imagine how much more I’m going to learn.”

(via hanovercounty.gov)

07/29/2026

✨ Staff Spotlight ✨

Behind every application, phone call, and case is someone who genuinely cares about serving our community.

Meet Anna, one of our Benefit Programs Specialist III! From joining the agency with no DSS experience to helping families access SNAP and Medicaid, her journey is a great example of growth, teamwork, and dedication to serving our community.

Get to know Anna and hear what she enjoys most about being part of the Hanover DSS team:

⭐ Anna has been with Hanover DSS since January 2021!

⭐ Anna joined the agency as a Benefit Programs Specialist I with no prior DSS experience. Today, she serves as Benefit Programs Specialist III, processing SNAP and Medicaid cases.

⭐ Anna's favorite part about working at Hanover DSS is the atmosphere and the support she receives from her coworkers and supervisors. As she puts it, "It never feels like being thrown overboard on a ship, they are always here to throw me a raft if needed."

⭐ Anna wants the community to know that Hanover DSS is truly an all-hands-on-deck workplace. Benefits and Services staff work side by side every day to meet the needs of Hanover County, and that collaboration makes all the difference.

07/24/2026

FAQ FRIDAY
❓ When should I contact Child Protective Services (CPS)❓

If you are concerned that a child may be experiencing abuse or neglect, don't wait for proof. If you have reasonable cause to suspect that a child is being harmed or is at risk of harm, it's time to make a report.

Child Protective Services should be contacted when you believe a child may be:
👉 Experiencing physical, sexual, or emotional abuse
👉 Being neglected, including lack of adequate food, shelter, medical care, supervision, or other basic needs
👉 Living in conditions that place their health, safety, or well-being at risk

You do not have to investigate or confirm that abuse or neglect has occurred - that is the role of Child Protective Services. Reporting your concerns allows trained professionals to assess the situation and determine what support or intervention may be needed.

One call can make a difference in protecting a child's safety and connecting families with the help they need. 💙 If you are unsure, it is always better to report your concerns than to remain silent.

Protecting children is everyone's responsibility. If you think a child is being abused or neglected, contact the 24-hour Child Protective Services Hotline at 800-552-7096.

07/23/2026

Mark your calendars!

📅 Saturday, August 1
🕘 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
📍 Shady Grove United Methodist Church

The 2026 Rising Above Barries Health/Abilities Expo offers an opportunity for individuals and families to connect with health providers, community organizations, and valuable local resources. The event includes educations exhibits, health screenings, a blood drive, and activities for all ages.

This event is FREE and open to the public. We hope to see you there!

07/10/2026

📢 FAQ Friday! 📢

Suspect your benefits have been skimmed?

Although EBT cardholders in Virginia and across the country continue to fall victim to skimming and card cloning fraud, we are currently unable to reimburse lost benefits. However, if you suspect your benefits were skimmed, you can do the following:

- Contact our Fraud Investigator Joseph Toney at 804-365-4132 to confirm skimming.
- Request a replacement EBT card.
- Download the ConnectEBT app on the Apple App or Google Play store and use it to unlock and lock your card after transactions.
- Please visit our resource guide for immediate resources/assistances https://www.hanovercounty.gov/DocumentCenter/View/11103/Hanover-Social-Services-Resource-Guide-August-2024

And if you aren’t a victim of fraud yet, don’t wait to become one! The best way to protect your card from scammers is by downloading the ConnectEBT app and locking your card after every transaction. Safeguard your benefits from fraud today!

07/08/2026

📢BIG NEWS for SNAP recipients!

Virginia will begin issuing new EBT chip-enabled cards in September of 2026 to help protect benefits and reduce fraud.
✔️ Your existing balance will transfer automatically
✔️ The new card technology is more secure
✔️ Your current magnetic stripe card will continue working until your new chip is activated (or up to 60 days after the new card it sent)

To prepare, make sure your local Department of Social Services has your current address, phone number, and email on file.

We are happy to share this news with you! Take a moment to review the flyer for what this means for you and how to prepare.

Address

12304 Washington Highway
Ashland, VA
23005

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 5pm
Thursday	8:30am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5:30pm

Website

https://www.hanovercounty.gov/395/Social-Services

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