Food stamps (SNAP) in
West Virginia.

West Virginia uses broad-based categorical eligibility in an unusual form. Every household at or below 200% of poverty is authorized to receive information and referral services, a mailing (form DFA-SNAP-I&R-1) paid for with TANF and state maintenance-of-effort money that lists other programs.

Being authorized for that mailing is what makes the household categorically eligible, from the day it applies, even though the brochure arrives later. The state manual's own example is a family of five at 185% of poverty, over the 130% gross limit but still treated as passing it.

Once a home is categorically eligible, BFA presumes the asset limit, both income tests, residency and sponsored non-citizen rules are met. Benefits are still figured from net income, so a home of three or more can qualify and get nothing; one- and two-person homes get the minimum benefit.

USDA approved West Virginia's request on August 4, 2025, as a two-year demonstration effective January 1, 2026. It removed soda from what SNAP could buy, covering regular, diet and zero-calorie soda. DoHS said water, milk, juice and energy drinks were not affected.

On June 22, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, in Aragon et al. v. Rollins et al., vacated USDA's approval and barred the waiver from going forward. USDA's July 2, 2026 retailer notice told West Virginia stores to stop enforcing the ban.

Soda is SNAP-eligible again in West Virginia. The current state manual no longer carries the soda rule, which its change log shows had been written as mandatory statewide through December 31, 2027.

West Virginia now certifies most SNAP households for 6 months, after 2026 manual updates replaced 12 months with 6. Expedited cases with postponed proof start with 1 or 2 months and are extended once the papers come in.

A home where every adult is 60 or older or disabled and nobody has countable earnings gets 24 months. It returns an interim contact report (PRC-2) at month 12, to the local office or on WV PATH, with no interview. If a working adult or a younger adult moves in, BFA shortens the period after advance notice.

Each renewal works like a new application and needs an interview, unless Social Security completed it. If a renewal closes for missing proof and you turn it in within 30 days after the period ends, it still counts as a renewal, not a new application.

Between renewals BFA asks for only three reports, due by the 10th of the month after the change: income going over your gross limit, a single lottery or gambling win over $4,750, and, for adults under the time limit, losing an exemption or dropping below 20 hours a week.

Your income trigger depends on how you were approved. If your benefit was figured at or under 130% of poverty, you report when income passes the 130% line; if above 130%, the trigger is 200%. Your approval notice states which one applies.

Report on WV PATH, by calling 1-877-716-1212, by fax to 304-558-1869, by mail to P.O. Box 1668, Charleston, WV 25326-1668, or on the DFA-SNAP-2 change form sent with your notices. Late reports can create overpayments you must repay.

Since October 1, 2022, state code section 9-8-2 has required every West Virginia county to enforce the time limit for able-bodied adults without dependents. The age range widened under the Fiscal Responsibility Act and, from November 1, 2025, under H.R. 1 to everyone 18 through 64.

Here a dependent means any SNAP household member under 14. Without one, and without an exemption such as pregnancy, half-time school, treatment or caring for an incapacitated person, you get 3 full months in a fixed 36-month period unless you work or train 80 hours a month.

The 36-month clock began in January 2016 and is the same for everyone, and months used in another state count. You regain eligibility by meeting the 80 hours for 30 days. People 60 to 64 are covered by the time limit but do not have to register with WorkForce West Virginia.

SNAP appeals are heard by the Board of Review in the Office of Inspector General, not by BFA. Ask by phone at 304-352-0805, by email to OIGBOR@wv.gov, through its online form, or by mail to Building 6, Room 817, State Capitol Complex, Charleston, WV 25305.

You have 90 days from the effective date of the action. BFA must mail notice at least 13 days before a cut, and asking before the effective date keeps the action on hold until a decision. The 13-day notice is not required when SNAP ends or drops as a result of a renewal.

You may also ask for a pre-hearing conference with the worker or supervisor who handled the case. In SNAP hearings you can postpone once for any reason, you may see your case file, and the Board must issue a decision within 60 days of the request.

Cards come by mail about 7 to 10 days after approval in a plain envelope that can look like junk mail. Activate the card and pick a PIN by calling 1-866-545-6502 or registering at ebtEDGE.com. A replacement card keeps your old PIN.

The ebtEDGE portal and app show 30 days of transactions and let you block internet and out-of-state purchases. BFA warns against third-party apps such as Propel and says FIS ebtEDGE is the only approved one. Report a lost or stolen card at once; replacements take 7 to 10 business days.