Virginia Kinship Benefit Renewal Deadlines — TANF, SNAP, and FAMIS

Why Renewals Matter More Than You Think

Getting approved for benefits is the hard part — but keeping them is where many kinship caregivers lose ground. Each program has its own renewal schedule, and missing a deadline can lead to closure. The next step depends on the program and the notice you receive, so act promptly rather than assuming every case requires a new application.

For a grandparent on a fixed income who depends on TANF child-only, SNAP, and FAMIS to cover a grandchild's costs, a gap in coverage caused by a missed renewal can be devastating.

TANF Child-Only — Annual Redetermination

TANF child-only cases are typically reviewed every 12 months. Your local DSS will send you a renewal packet or a notice asking you to confirm that the child still lives with you, that the child's income (if any) has not changed, and that the caregiving arrangement continues.

What you need to provide:

• Updated proof that the child still resides at your address (school enrollment, medical records)
• Any changes in the child's income (new child support, Social Security benefits)
• Confirmation that the child is under 18, or is age 18 and enrolled full-time in secondary school or equivalent vocational training

Your income as the non-parent caregiver is still excluded at renewal — the child-only classification does not change.

SNAP — Six to Twelve Months

SNAP recertification periods vary by household composition and income stability. Virginia's typical period is 6 to 12 months; check your notice for the exact certification end date.

You will receive a notice with a deadline. The renewal typically requires updated income documentation (your Social Security statement, pension, or pay stubs), current shelter costs, and confirmation of household composition.

You must also report certain changes between renewals within 10 calendar days: if your household income exceeds 130% of the Federal Poverty Level, if someone moves in or out, or if the child returns to a biological parent. SNAP uses a "simplified reporting" system for most households, limiting mid-period reports to these major changes.

FAMIS and Medicaid — Annual Renewal

Health coverage through FAMIS and Medicaid renews annually. Cover Virginia or your local DSS sends a renewal form. If the child's circumstances have not changed (still living with you, still under the income threshold), the renewal is straightforward.

Watch for automatic renewal attempts first: Virginia's DMAS uses electronic data matching to verify eligibility at renewal. If the system can confirm continued eligibility through existing databases, you may receive an automatic renewal notice rather than a full packet. But if the system cannot verify electronically, you will need to submit documentation.

Respond to every renewal notice, even if you believe nothing has changed. Silence is treated as non-response and triggers closure.

What Happens If You Miss a Deadline

If your benefits are closed due to a missed renewal, the Notice of Action (Form 032-03-0460-04) will state the reason and effective date. The steps differ by program:

TANF child-only: Submit the completed verification packet within 30 days of the closure notice and request administrative reconsideration without reapplying.

SNAP and health coverage: Follow the program-specific instructions on your notice or contact your local DSS promptly; do not assume the TANF reconsideration process or deadline applies.

If you request a Fair Hearing to challenge an adverse action, the general filing deadline is 30 calendar days from the date the Notice of Action was mailed. To keep current benefits unchanged while the appeal is pending, file within 10 calendar days of the advance notice date. If the hearing officer upholds the decision, the agency may seek recoupment of benefits paid during the appeal period.

Keeping Track

When you are receiving TANF, SNAP, and FAMIS for a child, each program has its own renewal cycle and its own documentation requirements. The cycles do not align — SNAP might renew in March while TANF renews in August and FAMIS in November. Missing one because you confused it with another is more common than agencies would like to admit.

The Virginia kinship financial help guide includes a recertification calendar designed for exactly this — tracking every program's renewal date, what documents each one needs, and the deadlines to respond.

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