Understanding When Does Your EBT Card Get Refilled: A Complete State-by-State Guide

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides monthly financial assistance to low-income families for purchasing food. If you’re wondering when does your EBT card get refilled each month, the answer depends primarily on your state of residence and specific account details. Unlike a single national schedule, when your EBT benefits appear varies significantly—some recipients receive their funds on the 1st of the month, while others may not see deposits until the 28th.

How to Find Out Your Personal EBT Refill Date

The most straightforward way to discover when your EBT gets refilled is to visit your state’s benefits website through the official Providers portal. Use the “EBT in My State” dropdown menu to locate your specific state, where you’ll find detailed information about your individual refill schedule.

Your exact EBT refill date is typically determined by one of several factors:

• The last digit of your Social Security number
• The first letter of your last name
• Your case number or account identification
• Your head of household’s identification number
• The birth month or birth year associated with your file

Because of these varying personal identifiers, two neighbors in the same state could receive their EBT card refill on completely different dates. This staggered system helps state agencies manage the volume of deposits processing throughout the month.

The General Pattern: When Most EBT Cards Get Refilled

In the majority of states, SNAP benefits arrive sometime between the 1st and 10th of each calendar month for new cases or during a slightly extended window for ongoing benefits. However, some states extend their refill period through the 28th to accommodate their entire beneficiary population.

Understanding how the EBT refill process works helps you plan your grocery shopping accordingly:

• Your benefits arrive on your prepaid debit card (the EBT card) rather than through direct deposit to a bank account
• The exact date when your EBT gets refilled depends on factors unique to your case rather than a blanket state-wide date
• Once deposited, benefits remain available for 12 months, though most recipients use them immediately
• The refill happens automatically each month—you don’t need to reapply or take any action

State-by-State EBT Refill Schedule

Here’s the complete breakdown of when SNAP benefits get refilled across all U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and territories. Use this guide to anticipate your monthly EBT card refill date:

Northeastern States:

• Connecticut: 1st to 3rd (based on first letter of last name)
• Delaware: 2nd to 24th (based on first letter of last name)
• Maine: 10th to 14th (based on last digit of birthday)
• Massachusetts: First 14 days (based on last digit of Social Security number)
• New Hampshire: 5th of each month
• New Jersey: First 5 days (based on 7th digit of case number)
• New York: 1st to 9th, except NYC with 13-day window (based on last digit of case number)
• Pennsylvania: First 10 business days (based on last digit of case record number)
• Rhode Island: 1st of each month
• Vermont: 1st of each month

Mid-Atlantic & Southern States:

• Maryland: 4th to 23rd (based on first letter of last name)
• Virginia: 1st to 9th (based on last digit of case number)
• West Virginia: First 9 days (based on first letter of last name)
• Washington, D.C.: 1st to 10th (based on first letter of last name)
• North Carolina: 3rd to 21st (based on last digit of Social Security number)
• South Carolina: 1st to 19th (based on last digit of case number)
• Georgia: 5th to 23rd (based on last two digits of ID number)
• Florida: 1st to 28th (based on 9th and 8th digits of case number)
• Alabama: 4th to 23rd (based on case number)

Midwestern States:

• Ohio: 2nd to 20th (based on last digit of case number)
• Michigan: 3rd to 21st (based on last two digits of ID number)
• Indiana: 5th to 23rd (based on first letter of last name)
• Illinois: 1st to 20th (based on case type and name)
• Wisconsin: First 15 days (based on 8th digit of Social Security number)
• Minnesota: 4th to 13th (based on last digit of case number)
• Iowa: First 10 days (based on first letter of last name)
• Missouri: 1st to 22nd (based on birth month and last name)
• Kansas: First 10 days (based on first letter of last name)
• Nebraska: 1st to 5th (based on last digit of head of household’s Social Security number)

Southern & Mountain States:

• Kentucky: First 19 days (based on last digit of Social Security number)
• Tennessee: 1st to 20th (based on last two digits of Social Security number)
• Arkansas: 4th to 13th (based on last digit of Social Security number)
• Louisiana: 1st to 14th (based on last digit of Social Security number)
• Texas: First 15 days (based on last digit of EDG number)
• Oklahoma: 1st to 10th (based on last digit of case number)
• Mississippi: 4th to 21st (based on last two digits of case number)
• Arizona: 1st to 13th (based on first letter of last name)
• New Mexico: First 20 days (based on last two digits of Social Security number)
• Colorado: 1st to 10th (based on last digit of Social Security number)
• Utah: 5th, 11th, or 15th (based on first letter of last name)
• Nevada: First 10 days (based on last number of birth year)
• Wyoming: 1st to 4th (based on first letter of last name)
• Montana: 2nd to 6th (based on last digit of case number)
• Idaho: First 10 days (based on last number of birth year)

Western & Northern States:

• Washington: Staggered throughout month (based on application and approval dates)
• Oregon: 1st to 9th (based on last digit of Social Security number)
• California: First 10 days (based on last digit of case number)
• Alaska: 1st of each month
• Hawaii: 3rd and 5th (based on first letter of last name)
• North Dakota: 1st of each month
• South Dakota: 10th of each month

U.S. Territories:

• Puerto Rico: 4th to 22nd (based on last digit of Social Security number)
• Guam: 1st to 10th

Making the Most of Your EBT Card When It Gets Refilled

Once your EBT card gets refilled with the month’s SNAP benefits, you can use it like a debit card at any SNAP-authorized retailer. Participating locations include:

• Major supermarket chains
• Farmers’ markets and farm stands
• Specialty grocery stores
• Big-box retailers like Walmart and Target
• Select online grocery services for home delivery
• Convenience stores with approved food inventory

Your EBT benefits cover a wide variety of food items including fresh produce, proteins (meat, poultry, fish), dairy products, grains, cereals, breads, and baked goods. Seeds and plants that produce food are also eligible purchases.

Planning Ahead: Why Knowing Your EBT Refill Date Matters

Understanding your personal schedule for when your EBT card gets refilled each month allows you to better manage your monthly food budget. Many recipients plan their grocery shopping trips for the days immediately following their expected refill date when they know funds will be available.

The staggered refill system, while initially confusing, ensures that state systems aren’t overwhelmed with processing millions of transactions simultaneously. It also means that throughout the month, a steady stream of SNAP recipients have access to fresh benefits rather than everyone receiving deposits on the same date.

If you ever need to verify your exact EBT refill schedule or have questions about when your benefits will arrive, the official state benefits portal remains your best resource. Customer service representatives can also confirm your individual refill date based on your case information.