The Virginia Department of Social Services announced it will release the final issuance of emergency allotment benefits to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program households in February. This is because the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act which authorized the benefits was ended by Congress. The temporary federal program was originally established in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The last issuance of benefits will be automatically loaded onto SNAP customers’ Electronic Benefits Transfer cards on Thursday, February 16.