Understanding Your EBT Schedule: Complete State-by-State Guide to SNAP Benefit Deposits

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides monthly food assistance to low-income households across America. One of the most common questions beneficiaries ask concerns the timing of their deposits—specifically, when their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card will be reloaded each month. Unlike a traditional paycheck that arrives on a fixed date, your EBT schedule varies depending on where you live and specific identifying factors tied to your case.

How the EBT Deposit System Works

SNAP benefits are distributed through prepaid EBT cards that function like debit cards, with allocated funds loaded directly onto them. Rather than processing all payments on a single day, each state manages its own distribution schedule throughout the month. This staggered approach helps state agencies manage processing loads more efficiently.

The key to understanding your personal EBT schedule lies in a single identifier: your Social Security number, case number, last name, or a combination of these factors. Your state uses one of these criteria to assign you a specific deposit date or date range. For example, if your state uses the last digit of your Social Security number to determine deposit timing, beneficiaries ending in 0 might receive funds on the 1st, those ending in 1 on the 2nd, and so on. This systematic approach ensures that funds are distributed evenly across the entire month rather than overwhelming the system with a single massive transfer.

Finding Your Specific EBT Reload Date

The most direct way to determine when your benefits arrive is to check your state’s official EBT provider website using their state-specific portal. Most states maintain an “EBT in My State” dropdown menu where you can locate your exact deposit schedule. Your specific date depends on the allocation method your state uses—whether that’s your Social Security number, case number, last name initial, or another factor.

In 2025, the overall process remains consistent with previous years. Benefits for new SNAP cases are typically deposited between the 1st and 10th of the month, though some states extend their distribution window further into the month to accommodate their beneficiary population.

Complete State-by-State EBT Schedule Reference

Here’s how EBT reload timing breaks down across all 50 states, plus Washington D.C. and U.S. territories:

Northeast Region: Connecticut deposits from the 1st to 3rd (based on last name initial), while Delaware spreads deposits over 23 days starting from the 2nd (also by last name). Maine operates from the 10th to 14th using birthday’s last digit, Massachusetts runs the first 14 days by Social Security last digit, New Hampshire consistently deposits on the 5th, New Jersey processes during the first 5 calendar days based on case number, New York ranges from the 1st to 9th (except NYC which uses 13 non-Sunday/holiday days), Pennsylvania deposits during the first 10 business days, Rhode Island deposits on the 1st, and Vermont also deposits on the 1st.

Mid-Atlantic and Southeast: Maryland schedules from the 4th to 23rd by last name, New Mexico distributes during the first 20 days using the last two Social Security digits, North Carolina deposits from the 3rd to 21st by Social Security last digit, and South Carolina ranges from the 1st to 19th based on case number. Virginia operates from the 1st to 9th by case number, West Virginia deposits during the first nine days by last name initial, and Washington D.C. follows the 1st to 10th schedule using last name.

South and Southeast Expansion: Alabama deposits between the 4th and 23rd based on case number, Arkansas uses the 4th to 13th window by Social Security last digit, Florida has the broadest window from the 1st to 28th using case number digits, Georgia deposits between the 5th and 23rd using ID number’s last two digits, Kentucky covers the first 19 days by Social Security last digit, Louisiana runs from the 1st to 14th using Social Security last digit, Mississippi spans the 4th to 21st by case number’s last two digits, Missouri distributes between the 1st and 22nd based on birth month and last name, Tennessee covers the 1st to 20th using Social Security’s last two digits, Texas deposits during the first 15 days by EDG number, and Puerto Rico schedules from the 4th to 22nd using Social Security last digit.

Midwest Corridor: Illinois deposits between the 1st and 20th based on case type and name combination, Indiana operates from the 5th to 23rd by last name initial, Iowa and Kansas both deposit during the first 10 days by last name initial, Michigan ranges from the 3rd to 21st using ID number’s last two digits, Minnesota covers the 4th to 13th by case number, Missouri uses birth month and last name, Nebraska deposits from the 1st to 5th based on household head’s Social Security last digit, North Dakota and Ohio operate with specific schedules (North Dakota on the 1st, Ohio from 2nd to 20th by case number), and Wisconsin deposits during the first 15 days using Social Security’s eighth digit.

Mountain and Plains: Arizona distributes from the 1st to 13th by last name initial, Colorado uses the 1st to 10th window with Social Security last digit, Idaho deposits during the first 10 days by birth year’s last digit, Kansas (as noted above) uses the first 10 days, Montana deposits between the 2nd and 6th by case number, Nevada covers the first 10 days by birth year’s last digit, New Mexico (as noted) uses the first 20 days, Oklahoma ranges from the 1st to 10th by case number, South Dakota deposits on the 10th, Utah operates on the 5th, 11th, or 15th based on last name initial, and Wyoming covers the 1st to 4th using last name initial.

Western States: Alaska deposits on the first day of the month, California covers the first 10 days by case number’s last digit, Hawaii deposits on the 3rd and 5th by last name initial, Oregon ranges from the 1st to 9th using Social Security last digit, and Washington uses a unique approach—deposits are staggered throughout the month based on your application date and approval date.

U.S. Territories: Guam deposits between the 1st and 10th, while the specific schedules for other territories follow individual protocols.

What You Can Purchase With Your EBT Card

Your SNAP benefits work at any authorized SNAP retailer, which includes most major supermarkets, select farmers’ markets, numerous convenience stores, and big-box retailers like Walmart and Target. You can purchase fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, bread, cereal, and other household food items. Many online grocery retailers also accept EBT payments, expanding your shopping options beyond physical locations.

Key Takeaways About SNAP and Your EBT Schedule

The SNAP program provides predictable monthly support, but the exact timing of when funds hit your account depends on your individual state’s system and your assigned distribution category. Understanding your state’s allocation method—whether it’s based on Social Security number, case number, last name, or another factor—allows you to plan your grocery shopping more effectively. While you won’t receive your benefits on the same date as every other beneficiary nationwide, you will consistently receive them on the same date each month within your state’s system.

Individual states maintain full responsibility for organizing and executing their distribution schedules, which is why variation exists across the country. This decentralized approach, while sometimes confusing, reflects the reality that different states have different administrative capacities and beneficiary populations to serve.

If you’re uncertain about your specific deposit date, checking your state’s official EBT provider website remains the fastest way to get accurate information tailored to your circumstances. Your EBT schedule—once understood—becomes a reliable planning tool for managing your household’s food budget throughout the month.