Understanding EBT Payment Schedules: When Does Your SNAP Benefits Get Reloaded?

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides monthly financial assistance to eligible low-income families, enabling them to purchase food and essential groceries. One key aspect of receiving this aid involves understanding when your Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card gets reloaded each month. Since you depend on these funds for household nutrition, knowing your specific reload schedule is essential for budgeting and planning your grocery shopping.

How SNAP Benefits Are Distributed and Reloaded to Your EBT Card

Rather than receiving physical checks or cash, SNAP recipients get their monthly assistance loaded onto a prepaid EBT card—essentially a debit card that functions exclusively for food purchases. The timing of when this reload occurs depends on several factors that vary by state, and sometimes even within states.

In most cases, the specific date you receive your monthly SNAP benefits reloaded onto your EBT card is determined by elements tied to your personal information. These determining factors typically include your Social Security number, case number, head of household identification number, or the first letter of your last name. This staggered distribution system helps state agencies manage the influx of transactions and ensures smooth processing throughout the month.

For recipients approved for new SNAP benefits in 2026 and beyond, most states begin depositing funds starting from the 1st and continuing through the 10th of each month, with some states extending distributions further into the month. Unlike a traditional paycheck that arrives on the same date for everyone, your benefit reload timing is unique to you, based on your specific account details.

The easiest way to determine exactly when your EBT card gets reloaded each month is to visit your state’s official EBT provider website and locate the “EBT in My State” section. This will confirm your precise payment date based on your personal information.

Finding Your EBT Reload Date by State

Since individual states manage their own SNAP payment distribution schedules, when your benefits reload varies significantly across the country. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of when EBT cards get reloaded in all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia and U.S. territories:

Alabama: Between the 4th and 23rd of the month, depending on your case number.

Alaska: First day of the month.

Arizona: Between the 1st and 13th of the month, depending on the first letter of your last name.

Arkansas: Between the 4th and the 13th of the month, based on the last digit of your Social Security number.

California: First 10 days of the month, depending on the last digit of your case number.

Colorado: Between the 1st and 10th of the month, based on the last digit of your Social Security number.

Connecticut: From the 1st to the 3rd of the month, based on the first letter of your last name.

Delaware: Loaded over 23 days, beginning with the 2nd day of the month, based on the first letter of your last name.

Florida: Between the 1st and 28th of the month, based on the 9th and 8th digits of your case number.

Georgia: Between the 5th and 23rd of the month, based on the last two digits of your ID number.

Guam: Between the 1st and the 10th of the month.

Hawaii: The 3rd and 5th of the month, based on the first letter of your last name.

Idaho: During the first 10 days of the month, based on the last number of your birth year.

Illinois: Between the 1st and 20th of the month, based on a combination of the type of case and the case name.

Indiana: From the 5th to the 23rd of the month, based on the first letter of your last name.

Iowa: During the first 10 days of the month, based on the first letter of your last name.

Kansas: During the first 10 days of the month, based on the first letter of your last name.

Kentucky: During the first 19 days of the month, based on the last digit of your Social Security number.

Louisiana: Between the 1st and the 14th of the month, based on the last digit of your Social Security number.

Maine: From the 10th to the 14th of the month, based on the last digit of your birthday.

Maryland: From the 4th to the 23rd of the month, based on the first letter of your last name.

Massachusetts: During the first 14 days of the month, based on the last digit of your Social Security number.

Michigan: From the 3rd to the 21st of the month, based on the last two digits of your ID number.

Minnesota: From the 4th to the 13th of the month, based on the last digit of your case number.

Mississippi: From the 4th to the 21st of the month, based on the last two digits of your case number.

Missouri: Between the 1st and the 22nd of the month, based on your birth month and last name.

Montana: Between the 2nd and 6th of the month, based on the last digit of your case number.

Nebraska: From the 1st to the 5th of the month, based on the last digit of your head of household’s Social Security number.

Nevada: During the first 10 days of the month, based on the last number of your birth year.

New Hampshire: The fifth day of the month.

New Jersey: During the first 5 calendar days of the month, based on the 7th digit of your case number.

New Mexico: During the first 20 days of the month, based on the last two digits of your Social Security number.

New York: Between the 1st and the 9th of the month, based on the last digit of your case number, except in New York City, where benefits are loaded over 13 days that are not Sundays or holidays.

North Carolina: From the 3rd to the 21st of the month, based on the last digit of your Social Security number.

North Dakota: The first day of the month.

Ohio: From the 2nd to the 20th of the month, based on the last digit of your case number.

Oklahoma: From the 1st to the 10th of the month, based on the last digit of your case number.

Oregon: From the 1st to the 9th of the month, based on the last digit of your Social Security number.

Pennsylvania: During the first 10 business days of the month, based on the last digit of your case record number.

Puerto Rico: Between the 4th and 22nd of the month, based on the last digit of your Social Security number.

Rhode Island: The first day of the month.

South Carolina: From the 1st to the 19th of the month, based on the last digit of your case number.

South Dakota: The 10th of the month.

Tennessee: From the 1st to the 20th of the month, based on the last two digits of your Social Security number.

Texas: During the first 15 days of the month, based on the last digit of your Eligibility Determination Group (EDG) number.

Utah: On the 5th, 11th or 15th of the month, based on the first letter of your last name.

Vermont: The first day of the month.

Virginia: From the 1st to the 9th of the month, based on the last digit of your case number.

Washington: Staggered throughout the month according to the date you applied and the application approval date.

Washington, D.C.: From the 1st to the 10th of the month, based on the first letter of your last name.

West Virginia: During the first nine days of the month, based on the first letter of your last name.

Wisconsin: During the first 15 days of the month, based on the eighth digit of your Social Security number.

Wyoming: From the 1st to the 4th of the month, based on the first letter of your last name.

Where and How to Use Your SNAP EBT Benefits

Once your benefits get reloaded onto your EBT card, you can use them at any SNAP-authorized retailer. This includes major supermarkets, convenience stores, many farmers’ markets, and large retailers such as Walmart and Target. Additionally, certain online grocery delivery services now accept EBT payments, making it more convenient to access food assistance.

Your EBT card works like a standard debit card and can purchase eligible food items including fresh produce, meat, poultry, seafood, dairy products, grains, bread, cereals, and other household food staples. Non-food items such as household supplies, toiletries, or prepared foods cannot be purchased with SNAP benefits, keeping the program focused on household nutrition.

Understanding your specific state’s EBT reload schedule ensures you can effectively manage your monthly grocery budget. Mark your calendar with your personal reload date, and you’ll always know when to expect your monthly assistance to arrive on your EBT card.