Youngkin meets with 1,500 Dept. of Social Service workers to reduce SNAP errors

“SNAP FORWARD” initiative aims to ensure benefits are delivered accurately, protecting taxpayers and strengthening food security for Virginia families

Governor Glenn Youngkin met virtually Thursday with more than 1,500 state and local benefits workers and leaders from the Virginia Department of Social Services (DSS), urging their support for SNAP FORWARD, a new statewide initiative aimed at reducing payment errors in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

“We must make sure benefits funded by taxpayers are delivered accurately, timely, and fairly,” Youngkin said during the meeting. “Thanks to the dedication of local DSS benefits specialists, supervisors, and state staff, we are focused and aligned like never before. SNAP FORWARD will help us achieve measurable results — strengthening program integrity, protecting taxpayer dollars, and ensuring Virginia families get the short-term support they need.”

The initiative builds on Executive Directive 13, issued by Youngkin in August, which tasked DSS with strengthening program integrity, mandating training for local staff, and requiring verification of household information rather than relying solely on self-attestation.

SNAP FORWARD’s core strategies include foundational training for all local eligibility workers, new verification policies, enhanced case review procedures, and investments in technology designed to identify and correct errors earlier in the process.