Public Benefits Update – July 2025

My whole family is covered under Medicaid – will we lose coverage? 

At this time, we do not expect anyone to immediately lose coverage. Most, but not all, of the provisions in the bill that Congress passed in July 2025 have delayed effective dates, meaning that states do not have to implement them until a later time. Many of the provisions have effective dates in 2027 and 2028, so we will learn more about how current beneficiaries may be impacted as Virginia processes the changes and implements new policies.  

One provision that may become effective this year is the work requirement rule for adults aged 19-64 without disabilities. This rule could be effective this year, but as of July 7, 2025, has not been implemented in Virginia. We are still waiting on specific policies from Virginia, but here’s what we do know:  

Adults aged 19-64 without disabilities will be required to meet a work requirement to remain eligible for Medicaid. To comply with the work requirement, the adult household members must: 

1. Work 80 hours per month; or 

2. Volunteer/complete community service for 80 hours per month; or 

3. Be enrolled in a work program associated with another public benefit; or 

4. Be enrolled in school at least half time; or 

5. A combination of the above to reach 80 hours per month 
   
   

There are exemptions to the work requirement rule if you are unable to work. We will share more information about exemptions as we learn more about how Virginia plans to implement the new rules.  

We do not yet know what documents will be required to verify eligibility, but in general, a household should be prepared to provide: 

1. Pay stubs or other employment verification (such as a letter from a supervisor or HR representative) that confirms hourly or weekly income, number of hours worked, and a contact at the company for more information; or 

2. A letter from a volunteer supervisor stating how many hours are contributed weekly and the type of work completed; or 

3. Proof of enrollment in school; or 

4. Military discharge documents; or 

5. A letter from a treating medical provider stating the nature of health conditions, whether the applicant is unable to work, and for how long.  

My children are US Citizens, but I am not – will my children lose Medicaid coverage? 

• US Citizen children should not automatically lose coverage as a result of the July 2025 bill.  

• The bill limits eligibility for noncitizens but preserves eligibility for US Citizens and Naturalized Citizens.  

I am not a US Citizen, will I lose my Medicaid coverage? 

• It is possible that you will lose your Medicaid coverage, but not immediately.  

• The new federal rules limit eligibility to noncitizens who: 

1. Are Lawful Permanent Residents who meet certain conditions (such as holding LPR status for at least 5 years); or 

2. Are certain Cuban or Haitian Entrants; or 

3. Are eligible for benefits under the Compact of Free Association. 

• All others, including elderly people, children, people with disabilities, and pregnant people could lose coverage, depending on their individual circumstances.  

• We do not yet know how Virginia will implement this policy. We will provide additional information as it becomes available.  

Do I need to meet a work requirement to maintain my Medicaid coverage? 

The work requirements are not yet required in Virginia Medicaid. The bill Congress passed in July 2025 requires states to implement work requirements by 2028, so Virginia will issue its policies soon. As of July 7, 2025, no one in Virginia must comply with a work requirement to keep Medicaid Coverage.  

Work requirements will apply to any adult aged 19-64 without a disability. The law will require anyone in that group to:  

1. Work 80 hours per month; or 

2. Volunteer/complete community service for 80 hours per month; or 

3. Be enrolled in a work program associated with another public benefit; or 

4. Be enrolled in school at least half time; or 

5. A combination of the above to reach 80 hours per month. 
   
   

You will not be required to meet the work requirement if you are:  

1. Under age 19 

2. Receiving disability benefits 

3. Institutionalized 

4. A parent/caretake for a child aged 13 or younger, or caretaker to someone receiving disability benefits 

5. A Veteran 

6. Living with complex medical conditions 

7. Pregnant 

8. Complying with work requirements for another public benefit program (such as SNAP).  

I think I have lost my Medicaid because of the changes in Congress’s July 2025 bill. What do I do? 

Contact your local legal aid office right away. Visit our Get Help page to find contact information for our offices.  

You can appeal if you believe that your Medicaid has been erroneously terminated or denied.  

• Documents to appeal are available here. 

• When you appeal, you may be eligible for continued coverage to avoid any lapse in coverage. Note that if you request continued coverage and you ultimately lose your appeal, you could be liable to pay back the cost of services that you received while the appeal was pending.  

My family relies on SNAP benefits for food – will we lose benefits? 

Some households will see their benefits reduced or terminated, depending on each household’s circumstances. Many of the SNAP provisions in Congress’s July 2025 bill are effective right away, but Virginia has not yet issued any policies on how it will administer the changes. We will provide more information as soon as it is available.  

Households that may be directly impacted:  

• Households with noncitizen members (see below)  

• Households with adults subject to the work requirement (see below)  

• Some households receiving LIHEAP in the Winter or Summer to assist with heating/cooling bills 
  

Whether a household loses benefits as a result of the changes will depend entirely on the individual circumstances for each household. If you receive a notice that your benefits have been reduced or terminated, or are denied benefits when you first apply, contact your local legal aid office right away. Visit our Get Help page for contact information at each LAJC office.  

My children are US Citizens receiving SNAP benefits – will their benefits be terminated? 

Although Congress’s July 2025 bill restricted access to benefits for noncitizens (see below), US citizens remain eligible for SNAP benefits under the same eligibility rules that existed before the July 2025 bill passed.  

The bill restricts access to benefits for many noncitizens, so if children are the only US Citizens in the home and others have other status, it is possible that benefits for the household will be reduced. Whether benefits will be reduced depends entirely on individual household circumstances. If you think that your household’s benefits have been terminated or reduced because of the changes in Congress’s July 2025 bill, contact your local legal aid right away. Visit our Get Help page to find contact information for each LAJC office.  

I am not a US Citizen but have been eligible for SNAP benefits because of my status. Will I lose my benefits? 

You may lose benefits or see benefits reduced. Congress’s July 2025 bill restricts noncitizen eligibility for SNAP benefits to: 

• Lawful permanent residents who have held their green card for at least 5 years or who have at least 40 quarters of work history in the US; 

• Certain Cuban or Haitian Entrants; and 

• People eligible for benefits under the Compact of Free Association.  

All other noncitizens, including elderly people, children, pregnant people, and people with disabilities will eventually lose access to SNAP benefits.  

Virginia has not yet issued any policies on how it will implement these changes. We will provide more information as it becomes available. If you believe that your SNAP benefits have been terminated/reduced/denied because of Congress’s July 2025 bill, please contact your local legal aid right away. Visit our Get Help page for contact information at each LAJC office. 

I am not a US Citizen, but I need food support. Can I apply for benefits? 

Unfortunately, effective immediately, the only noncitizens eligible for SNAP benefits are:  

• Lawful permanent residents who have held their green card for at least 5 years or who have at least 40 quarters of work history in the US; 

• Certain Cuban or Haitian Entrants; and  

• People eligible for benefits under the Compact of Free Association. 

All other noncitizens, including elderly people, children, pregnant people, and people with disabilities are not eligible for benefits. If you are not eligible for benefits, you should not apply, including because of how much of your personal information will be shared with the Virginia and Federal governments.  

I am not eligible for SNAP benefits, but my children are. Can I apply for benefits for them? 

• Yes, you can apply for benefits for the eligible members of your household. We recommend working with an application assister or speaking with an attorney about how to best prepare the application. Visit our Get Help page for contact information for all LAJC offices.  

Do I have to meet a work requirement to continue receiving SNAP benefits? 

Depending on your age and circumstances, you may need to meet a work requirement. With the changes in Congress’s July 2025 bill, work requirements apply to all adults aged 18-64 without a disability and/or without dependents.  

Work requirements do not apply to: 

• Children under 18 

• People medically certified as unable to work 

• People receiving disability benefits 

• People receiving Unemployment Benefits 

• Parents/caretakers for a child aged 14 or under 

• Pregnant people 

• Certain American Indian groups 

If you must meet a work requirement, but cannot, you must provide evidence of one of the above exceptions or you will be limited to receiving 3 months of benefits in a 36-month period.  

If you must meet a work requirement, you must provide evidence that you:  

• Work 80 hours per month; or  

• Volunteer for 80 hours per month; or 

• Attend school at least half-time; or   

• Meet the requirements of another public benefits program. 

Until Congress passed the July 2025 bill, work requirements in Virginia extended only to people aged 19-54, and there were additional exemptions for Veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and former foster children—these are no longer available. With the 2025 changes, it is possible that you may be newly required to comply with the work requirements, so ensure that your contact information is up-to-date to receive any notices or requests for information from DSS.  

If you believe that your SNAP benefits have been reduced, denied, or terminated because of Congress’s July 2025 changes, contact your local legal aid right away. Visit our Get Help page for contact information for all LAJC offices.  

I think I lost my SNAP benefits/my household’s SNAP benefits were reduced because of Congress’s July 2025 bill. What do I do? 

Contact your local legal aid right away. Visit our Get Help page for contact information for all LAJC offices.  

• You can file an appeal if you believe that your benefits were erroneously denied. Information on how to appeal is available here. 

• You may qualify for continued benefits while the appeal is pending, but note that if you ultimately lose the appeal you may be liable to pay back the cost of any benefits that you received and used while the appeal was pending.