Virginia Poverty Law Center

Take Action: Protect Health Care Access - The Commonwealth Institute Reach out to your lawmakers to support quality representation the first time someone appears in court

Virginia lawmakers can take action to protect health coverage for low- and moderate-income families. Use this tool from @tcifiscal.bsky.social to contact key decision-makers: thecommonwealthinstitute.org/take-action-...

Senate panel advances $48 hike in weekly unemployment benefits

TCI is proud to play a supporting role to improve unemployment benefits alongside advocates and experts from SALT, @vplc.bsky.social, @legalaidjustice.bsky.social, and @nelp.org!

“Affordability” is the theme of the General Assembly this session.
But which legislation is actually moving?
Housing reforms. Consumer protections. Foster care changes.
See what’s advancing—and what it means—in VPLC’s newsletter: secure.everyaction.com/nR_PmVmmVkaz...

New Special Enrollment Period Expands Access to Coverage for Pregnant Virginians Uninsured pregnant Virginians now qualify for a special enrollment period to enroll in Marketplace health coverage.

Pregnant Virginians can now enroll in health coverage on Virginia’s Insurance Marketplace year-round, improving access to vital prenatal care for uninsured individuals when they need it: www.vplc.org/press-releas...

Coffee chat with VPLC General Assembly Crossover Day Thursday, February 19, 2026 9-10 A.M. Join Jay Speer and Virginia Poverty Law Center's legislative advocates for a Crossover Day update on the affordability-focused legislation moving through the General Assembly. Register: bit.ly/vplc-crossover26

Join Jay Speer and Virginia Poverty Law Center advocates for an online Crossover Day Coffee Chat about affordability-focused legislation moving through the General Assembly.

Thursday, February 19, 9–10 a.m., virtual

Register: bit.ly/vplc-crossov...

2026 Virginia General Assembly’s Legislative Session Each year, VPLC’s legislative advocates work towards policies that support every family’s ability to live, work, and thrive. VPLC’s 2026 priorities focus on one goal: building an affordable Virginia…

Stay up-to-date with VPLC's work at the General Assembly this year: www.vplc.org/2026-virgini...

Some Americans say they'll go without health insurance as ACA rates spike After the ACA tax credit lapsed in December, enrollees are opting for less robust health plans or dropping coverage altogether.

Enhanced Tax Credits expired Dec 31 & many are being priced out of coverage.

"What we're seeing here is a policy choice — is, in effect, turning insurance into a luxury item & medical debt into the default," said Michelle Sternthal, our interim Senior Director of Policy & Strategy to @cbsnews.com.

‘Renovictions’ displace residents, harm affordability, VA advocates say Consumer advocates in Virginia said the trend of

VPLC attorney Daniel Rezai explains the harms of "renovictions" and what Virginia can do to help protect tenants: app.publicnewsservice.org/story/renovi...

In some situations, you don't have to send paperwork in the mail. You can file the paperwork online or fax it instead.

What can you do to prevent issues?

If you want to make sure the postmark on your mail matches the date you sent it, you can take your mail to the post office and request a manual postmark for free. You can also use certified mail to get a mailing receipt with the date.

Because of the changes at USPS, sending your response the day before it’s due does not guarantee it will be postmarked before the deadline. It might be postmarked a day or several days after, which means it could be considered late instead.

If you receive public benefits like SNAP and Medicaid, you may get notices in the mail about your application, renewal, or any appeals you file.

If you send your response in the mail, it must be postmarked by the deadline included in the notice. Otherwise, it could impact your coverage or appeal.

In the past, USPS has usually postmarked mail on the day you drop it off.

USPS is changing how it transports mail, so now your mail may not be processed same-day. That means the postmark might show a later date than the day you dropped off your mail.

When USPS processes your mail, they print the date and other information on it. This is called a postmark.

If you are responding to a deadline, the postmark is important. In many cases, a mailed document is not considered late if it is postmarked by the deadline—even if it arrives after.

🧵 Because of changes at USPS, your time-sensitive mail could be considered late if you drop it in a mailbox too close to the deadline.

Here's what public benefits recipients should know about the change and how it could affect responding to notices in the mail.

"Coffee chat with VPLC: Legislative Kickoff Wednesday, January 14, 2026 9 A.M. - 10 A.M. Join for an overview of VPLC's legislative agenda for 2026 and ways to support our advocacy for low-income Virginians. Register: bit.ly/2026legislativekickoff"

Register for VPLC's upcoming coffee chat to learn about our 2026 legislative agenda and ways to get involved in the process. bit.ly/2026legislat...

Plan details and prices change every year, so don't let your plan auto-renew. It's important to review your plan options every year so you can make sure your coverage fits your needs and budget.

December 31 is the last day Virginians can enroll in Marketplace coverage that starts January 1.

Free, unbiased enrollment help is available through VPLC's Enroll Virginia program. Find your local assister and make an appointment: enrollva.org/get-help

Virginia Must Act to Protect Healthcare Access for Children and Families Virginia must take advantage of the options it has to protect coverage for children and families and protect the stability of the health care system.

Virginia Must Act to Protect Healthcare Access for Children and Families: www.vplc.org/news/virgini...

"Justice isn't a once-a-year commitment. Your gift helps VPLC push for long-term reforms that protect families and ensure systems lift people up--not hold them down."

Justice isn’t a once-a-year commitment.

Your support fuels VPLC’s long-term reform work for Virginia families.

vplc.org/donate

"Navigating Care Denials and Reductions with the Medicaid Waiver Presented by Victoria Richardson, Virginia Poverty Law Center Monday, December 15, 2025"

VPLC's Victoria Richardson will present next Monday about how to navigate denials and reductions in care hours for Medicaid Waiver users. Learn more and register: thearcofnova.org/event/naviga...

"End the year with purpose. Too many Virginians live with no room to fail. Your support helps VPLC: - Protect Virginians today. - Push for real systemic change. - Build stability for tomorrow."

Too many Virginians live with no room to fail. This year, VPLC's advocacy helped remove barriers for 100,000+ Virginians seeking life-sustaining public benefits.

Your gift fuels real systemic change: vplc.org/donate

Thank you Senator @aaronrouse.bsky.social for introducing this bill to give tenants more time to pay late rent before being evicted. This will help tenants, landlords, the courts, and Virginia's economy. Win-win! www.wric.com/news/politic...

COURT SIDES WITH LEGALLY BLIND PUBLIC HOUSING TENANT IN HOUSING DISCRIMINATION CASE AGAINST NORFOLK REDEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING AUTHORITY NORFOLK, VA - A federal judge ruled in favor of a legally… | Le... COURT SIDES WITH LEGALLY BLIND PUBLIC HOUSING TENANT IN HOUSING DISCRIMINATION CASE AGAINST NORFOLK REDEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING AUTHORITY NORFOLK, VA - A federal judge ruled in favor of a legally blind...

VPLC is so proud of the great work from the attorneys at the Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia—who won this battle for tenant rights that shouldn't need to be fought for repeatedly, as LASEV attorney Brandon Ballard notes: www.linkedin.com/posts/legala...

Virginians on health insurance marketplace see monthly premiums rise to ‘astonishing’ levels Small-business owners, middle-income families and older adults will be the hardest hit by the end of enhanced premium tax credits.

Cardinal News interviewed Marketplace shoppers and an Enroll Virginia navigator in this piece about rising health insurance premiums. If Congress doesn't extend enhanced premium tax credits, Virginia families will have to keep making tough decisions about coverage.

cardinalnews.org/2025/11/26/v...

SNAP Work Rules Strain Older Adults and State Systems State agencies are scrambling to avoid costly penalties and track an influx of paperwork

"​Down the line, the result of all this change could be that states pare back the food program and that older adults find themselves without needed assistance." www.aarp.org/advocacy/sna...

Take action today to urge your members of Congress to reverse the harmful SNAP cuts passed earlier this year and protect the vital hunger-fighting program: bit.ly/4puqk4G

Children's Defense Fund: while this "names some valid challenges with our child welfare system," it stops short of addressing disparities such as race and poverty "being used as an excuse for family separation." (2/2)

VPLC has long worked to ensure youth in foster care can get the support they need to be successful as they transition to adulthood—so we welcome the President's initiative to improve services and connections to young people aging out of care. But we echo Rev. Starsky Wilson, president of the (1/2)

SNAP participants already have to regularly recertify for benefits

it's every year for most, sometimes more often, sometimes a little less (like for elderly and disabled folks)