The Virginia Department of Social Services says more and more Virginians are having trouble putting food on the table.

In an effort to feed more people, social services is actually changing its eligibility requirements for people who receive food stamps.

Robert Lewis knows what it's like to live with a food stamp card.

He admits, "If I didn't get food stamps, I couldn't afford to eat anything."

Lewis lost his job because of the slow economy. Elizabeth Middleton, the director of Shenandoah Valley Social Services, says this is becoming far too common so the eligibility requirements are changing.

Middleton explains, "People with slightly higher incomes who may not have been eligible, who may have missed the benchmark by just a few dollars or $20 or $30 before, may now be eligible, which means it'll open up the benefits to a lot more families who really need them."

Middleton says her office has been swamped lately. They've seen a 20-percent increase in services in every single department of social services.

"Many people who were barely able to make it before are finding that they're just not able to make it now, and people who are doing better economically are finding that they're just barely making it now", says Middleton.

As more and more people find themselves having to sign up for food stamps, Lewis says a lot of people have no other choice.

He says, "It's hard sometimes. You know, everybody's got pride. They like to stand on their own two feet, and it's kind of a shame you have to come down here to result to this just to get some help to survive in the country this day."

Although most people will benefit from these new eligibility requirements, the state has changed some rules pertaining to deductible items, so a small number of people who may have received help before may not receive as much help this year.