Washington County VA Dept. of Social Services

08/31/2026

Make sure your new EBT chip card reaches you! Verify your mailing address on commonhelp.virginia.gov or at your local department by September 9. 📬

Your balance will transfer automatically once you activate the new card. Current cards expire 60 days after your new card is mailed.

Learn more about your new EBT card at VirginiaChipCard.com.

08/17/2026

A more secure EBT card is on its way to you this fall!🔒

When your new SNAP EBT chip card arrives, you must activate it right away. Your old card will deactivate once you activate the new one, or 60 days after it is mailed.

Check your mail often. Activation instructions will be included in the mailer with your new card. Learn more at VirginiaChipCard.com.

07/14/2026

🔒Stronger protection is on the way for SNAP benefits in Virginia.

Virginia will soon begin issuing EBT cards with chip technology, helping reduce fraud and safeguard benefits from card skimming.

To ensure your replacement card arrives at the correct address, confirm your mailing information through CommonHelp (commonhelp.virginia.gov) or with your local department of social services by September 9.

Once you activate your new chip card, your existing SNAP balance will move over automatically. Your current card will remain active for 60 days after the new card is sent.

Learn more about the transition and what to expect at VirginiaChipCard.com.

07/09/2026

Big news! Virginia is transitioning to more secure SNAP EBT chip cards to better protect your benefits from theft and skimming.

To make sure your new card reaches you, verify your mailing address on commonhelp.virginia.gov or at your local department of social services by September 9.

Your balance will transfer automatically once you activate the new card. Current cards expire 60 days after your new card is mailed.

Learn more about your new EBT card at VirginiaChipCard.com.

06/26/2026

Stop by and see us July 10th. Grab some lemonade, a tasty sweet and support a great cause that is near and dear to our hearts!!

04/22/2026

Come join our team at WCDSS, we have three openings in our Family Services unit.
❤️Have a heart for CPS Investigations, CPS In Home Services or Foster Care? We have a spot for you!
👩‍🎓🧑‍🎓Know someone completing their BS in May? Share this link with them.

Hiring Range: $36,993 to Dependent on experience Full Time or Part Time: Full TimeAdditional Detail Title Description- Family Services Specialist I represents the entry level employees working under close supervision while being trained in either Child Protective Services or Foster Care/Adoption. Em...

04/21/2026

WCDSS will close at noon Wednesday, April 22nd for a staff training. We will reopen at 8:00 am Thursday, April 23rd.

To apply for SNAP, TANF or Medicaid:
💻www.commonhelp.virginia.gov
☎️855-635-4370

If you need to drop off a document:
📥Use the drop box located at the right of our main lobby doors.
📆Documents placed in the drop box during these times will be marked received the next business day for deadline purposes.

CommonHelp will undergo scheduled maintenance on Sunday, April 26th, from 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM. During this time, the system may be unavailable or experience intermittent issues.

04/07/2026

The SNAP food restriction waiver previously scheduled to take effect April 1, 2026, has been delayed to October 1, 2026. There will be no new limits on the use of SNAP benefits for sweetened beverages until the new effective date.

We are committed to keeping you informed and will continue to share updates and guidance with customers and retailers as new information becomes available.

04/06/2026

People Inc.'s Head Start (ages 3 to 4) and Early Head Start (prenatal to 2) will be set up in the WCDSS lobby Monday, April 6th, Friday, April 10th, Monday, April 13th and Friday, April 17th. Stop by for more information and to apply.

The Head Start and Early Head Start programs promote early childhood education, health, nutrition, parent education, family development and parental involvement for income eligible families and children.