SNAP Benefit Reload Timing: State-by-State Guide to When Your EBT Card Gets Funded

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides monthly food assistance to eligible low-income households across the United States. Understanding when your SNAP benefits reload is essential for household budgeting and meal planning. While the program operates nationally, the specific timing of when your EBT card receives funding varies significantly depending on which state you live in and personal factors tied to your case details.

How SNAP Benefits Get Distributed Each Month

SNAP benefits arrive through an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card—a prepaid debit card loaded with your monthly food assistance amount. Rather than processing all payments on the same day nationwide, individual states manage their own distribution schedules. This staggered approach helps ensure smooth processing across the country’s population of millions of recipients.

The timing system uses a formula based on identifying information to spread payments throughout the month. Most commonly, states use factors like your Social Security number’s final digit, the first letter of your last name, or your case number to determine your specific reload date. This means that even within your own state, different households receive their SNAP benefits on different days of the month.

For most of 2026, the distribution schedule remains consistent with recent years, with benefits typically dispersed between the 1st and 28th of each month, depending on your location and case details.

Determining Your Personal SNAP Reload Date: What Affects Your EBT Schedule

Several factors determine exactly when your SNAP benefits reload each month. The primary determining factor is a specific component of your personal identification—most often the last digit of your Social Security number or the first letter of your surname. Some states use the last digit of your case number or a combination of multiple pieces of information.

The most direct way to find your exact reload date is to contact your state’s SNAP office or visit the official benefits provider website and search for your state in the “EBT in My State” dropdown menu. This will provide you with the precise date range and the specific criterion that determines your personal deposit date.

Because each state manages its own program, there’s no universal reload date. A household in California might receive benefits on the 5th of the month, while a similar family in Georgia receives theirs on the 15th. This variation makes it important to know your personalized schedule rather than making assumptions based on neighbors’ experiences.

Complete Directory: SNAP Benefits Reload Dates and Distribution by State

Below is a comprehensive overview of how each state and U.S. territory structures its SNAP reload schedule:

Northeast Region:

• Connecticut: 1st to 3rd (determined by first letter of last name)
• Delaware: 2nd to 24th (spread over 23 days, based on first letter of last name)
• Maine: 10th to 14th (based on last digit of birthday)
• Massachusetts: 1st to 14th (based on last digit of Social Security number)
• New Hampshire: 5th of the month
• New Jersey: 1st to 5th (based on 7th digit of case number)
• New York: 1st to 9th (1st to 13th including Sundays/holidays in NYC; determined by last digit of case number)
• Pennsylvania: 1st to 10th business days (based on last digit of case record number)
• Rhode Island: 1st of the month
• Vermont: 1st of the month

Mid-Atlantic & Southeast Region:

• Maryland: 4th to 23rd (based on first letter of last name)
• Virginia: 1st to 9th (based on last digit of case number)
• West Virginia: 1st to 9th (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)

Midwest Region:

• 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 case name combination)
• Wisconsin: 1st to 15th (based on 8th digit of Social Security number)
• Minnesota: 4th to 13th (based on last digit of case number)
• Iowa: 1st to 10th (based on first letter of last name)
• Missouri: 1st to 22nd (based on birth month and last name)
• Kansas: 1st to 10th (based on first letter of last name)
• Nebraska: 1st to 5th (based on last digit of head of household’s Social Security number)
• North Dakota: 1st of the month
• South Dakota: 10th of the month

South & South-Central Region:

• Kentucky: 1st to 19th (based on last digit of Social Security number)
• Tennessee: 1st to 20th (based on last two digits of Social Security number)
• Louisiana: 1st to 14th (based on last digit of Social Security number)
• Arkansas: 4th to 13th (based on last digit of Social Security number)
• Mississippi: 4th to 21st (based on last two digits of case number)
• Texas: 1st to 15th (based on last digit of EDG number)
• Oklahoma: 1st to 10th (based on last digit of case number)

Mountain & Western Region:

• Colorado: 1st to 10th (based on last digit of Social Security number)
• Wyoming: 1st to 4th (based on first letter of last name)
• Montana: 2nd to 6th (based on last digit of case number)
• Idaho: 1st to 10th (based on last number of birth year)
• Utah: 5th, 11th, or 15th (based on first letter of last name)
• Nevada: 1st to 10th (based on last number of birth year)
• New Mexico: 1st to 20th (based on last two digits of Social Security number)
• Arizona: 1st to 13th (based on first letter of last name)
• California: 1st to 10th (based on last digit of case number)
• Oregon: 1st to 9th (based on last digit of Social Security number)
• Washington: Throughout the month (based on application and approval dates)

Alaska & Hawaii:

• Alaska: 1st of the month
• Hawaii: 3rd to 5th (based on first letter of last name)

U.S. Territories:

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

Washington, D.C.:

• Washington, D.C.: 1st to 10th (based on first letter of last name)

Finding Your Exact SNAP Reload Date: Where to Look for Your State

The best way to determine your personalized SNAP reload timing is to use the official resource provided by your state’s benefits program. Access the provider’s website and locate the “EBT in My State” section, where you’ll find state-specific information and schedule details.

If you need confirmation of your personal reload date, contact your local SNAP office directly. Representatives can confirm whether you’re on a schedule starting on the 1st, 10th, 20th, or any other designated date based on your specific case identifiers.

Where You Can Use Your SNAP Benefits

Your EBT card can be used at any SNAP-authorized retailer. Most supermarkets and grocery stores accept SNAP benefits, along with many farmers’ markets, convenience stores, and large retail chains like Walmart and Target. Several online grocery retailers now also accept EBT cards, expanding the options for how you can purchase eligible food items.

Approved purchases include fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, grains, bread, cereals, and other household food staples. Non-food items and prepared foods cannot be purchased with SNAP benefits.

Understanding when your specific SNAP benefits reload gives you greater control over meal planning and household budgeting. By knowing your state’s distribution pattern and how your personal information determines your reload date, you can better manage your food assistance throughout the month.