Understanding When Your EBT Card Reloads: A Complete State-by-State Breakdown

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP, provides monthly financial assistance to help low-income families purchase food. A key question many recipients ask is when does your EBT card reload each month. The answer isn’t straightforward—it depends on where you live, your case details, and how your state’s benefit distribution system operates.

How the SNAP Benefit Distribution System Works

SNAP benefits are transferred to recipients through a prepaid Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, essentially a specialized debit card that functions like any standard bank card. Unlike a single payout date, when your EBT card reloads varies considerably by state. Most states intentionally spread distributions throughout the month rather than loading all benefits on the same date.

This staggered approach serves multiple purposes. It reduces strain on the food retail system, prevents bottlenecks at grocery stores, and helps distribute administrative workload evenly throughout the month. The funds are typically divided among recipients based on personal identifiers—your Social Security number, last name, case number, or account identification—rather than processing everyone simultaneously.

In 2026, this distribution pattern remains consistent across most states, with benefits still being deposited on predetermined dates based on individual circumstances and state-specific scheduling rules.

What Determines Your Specific EBT Reload Date

Your personal reload schedule depends on several interconnected factors. The state you reside in establishes its own system and timeline. Within that framework, your position in the distribution cycle is usually determined by one of these identifiers:

• Social Security Number: The final digits of your SSN often determine your reload day
• Last Name: Alphabetical order based on your surname
• Case Number: The digits assigned to your SNAP application
• Birth Date: The month or year of birth for the head of household
• Application Date: When you were approved for benefits

Because individual states handle their own scheduling, the same identifier might determine reload dates differently. For example, in one state the last digit of your Social Security number might mean you receive benefits between the 1st and 10th, while in another state, it could be between the 4th and 23rd.

Finding Your Exact When Your EBT Card Reloads

The most reliable way to discover when your EBT card reloads is visiting your state’s official EBT program website. Most states maintain an “EBT in My State” section where you can select your state and find the specific distribution schedule. You’ll need your personal identifier (usually the same one that determines your reload date) to pinpoint your exact calendar date.

Several factors make this search essential:

• Every state operates independently with no federal standard reload date
• New applicants often receive their first benefit within 1-10 days of approval
• Emergency expedited benefits may follow different timelines
• Your household composition and case type might affect your specific date

Complete State-by-State EBT Reload Schedule Reference

Here’s how when your EBT card reloads across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories:

Alabama: Reloads occur between the 4th and 23rd of each month, determined by your case number.

Alaska: Benefits load on the first day of the month for all recipients.

Arizona: Distribution spans the 1st through 13th, based on the first letter of your surname.

Arkansas: Reloads happen between the 4th and 13th, using the final digit of your Social Security number as the determining factor.

California: First ten calendar days receive deposits, with your position determined by the last digit of your case number.

Colorado: Benefits are distributed between the 1st and 10th of each month according to your Social Security number’s last digit.

Connecticut: Reloads occur from the 1st to 3rd based on the first letter of your last name.

Delaware: Distribution spans 23 days starting on the 2nd of the month, with ordering based on your surname’s first letter.

Florida: Deposits stretch from the 1st through the 28th, determined by digits eight and nine of your case number.

Georgia: Reloads happen between the 5th and 23rd using the final two digits of your ID number.

Guam: Distribution occurs between the 1st and 10th of the month.

Hawaii: Benefits load on either the 3rd or 5th, depending on your last name’s first letter.

Idaho: First ten days of the month receive deposits, with placement based on the final digit of your birth year.

Illinois: Distribution ranges from the 1st to the 20th, determined by case type and case name combinations.

Indiana: Reloads span from the 5th through the 23rd according to your surname’s first letter.

Iowa: First ten days receive benefits, ordered by the initial letter of your last name.

Kansas: Distribution occurs during the opening ten days of the month based on your last name’s first letter.

Kentucky: Reloads happen within the first 19 days using your Social Security number’s final digit.

Louisiana: Benefits load between the 1st and 14th determined by your Social Security number’s last digit.

Maine: Deposits occur from the 10th through the 14th based on your birthday’s final digit.

Maryland: Distribution spans the 4th through the 23rd ordered by your last name’s first letter.

Massachusetts: First 14 days receive reloads according to your Social Security number’s last digit.

Michigan: Reloads happen from the 3rd to the 21st using the final two digits of your ID number.

Minnesota: Distribution occurs from the 4th through the 13th based on your case number’s last digit.

Mississippi: Deposits happen from the 4th through the 21st determined by your case number’s final two digits.

Missouri: Benefits load between the 1st and 22nd based on birth month and surname combination.

Montana: Reloads occur between the 2nd and 6th according to your case number’s last digit.

Nebraska: Distribution ranges from the 1st to the 5th determined by the head of household’s Social Security number’s final digit.

Nevada: First ten days of the month receive benefits ordered by your birth year’s final digit.

New Hampshire: All recipients receive their reload on the 5th of each month.

New Jersey: First five calendar days receive deposits based on digit seven of your case number.

New Mexico: Benefits load during the first 20 days determined by your Social Security number’s final two digits.

New York: Distribution occurs between the 1st and 9th according to your case number’s last digit, with New York City recipients receiving benefits over 13 non-holiday weekdays.

North Carolina: Reloads happen from the 3rd to the 21st determined by your Social Security number’s last digit.

North Dakota: All recipients receive benefits on the first day of each month.

Ohio: Distribution spans the 2nd through the 20th based on your case number’s last digit.

Oklahoma: Deposits occur from the 1st through the 10th according to your case number’s final digit.

Oregon: Reloads happen from the 1st to the 9th determined by your Social Security number’s last digit.

Pennsylvania: Distribution occurs during the first ten business days based on your case record number’s last digit.

Puerto Rico: Benefits load between the 4th and 22nd according to your Social Security number’s final digit.

Rhode Island: All recipients receive deposits on the first day of the month.

South Carolina: Reloads span from the 1st through the 19th determined by your case number’s last digit.

South Dakota: All recipients receive their reload on the 10th of each month.

Tennessee: Distribution occurs from the 1st through the 20th based on your Social Security number’s final two digits.

Texas: Benefits load during the first 15 days of the month according to your Eligibility Determination Group (EDG) number’s final digit.

Utah: Recipients receive reloads on the 5th, 11th, or 15th depending on their last name’s first letter.

Vermont: All recipients receive benefits on the first day of each month.

Virginia: Distributions occur from the 1st through the 9th determined by your case number’s last digit.

Washington: Benefits load throughout the month according to your application date and approval date.

Washington, D.C.: Reloads happen from the 1st through the 10th based on your last name’s first letter.

West Virginia: Distribution occurs during the first nine days of the month ordered by your surname’s first letter.

Wisconsin: Benefits load during the first 15 days according to digit eight of your Social Security number.

Wyoming: Reloads occur from the 1st through the 4th based on your last name’s first letter.

Where You Can Use Your SNAP EBT Card

Once your EBT card reloads with available benefits, you can use it at any SNAP-authorized retailer nationwide. Authorized locations include most supermarket chains, select farmers’ markets, certain convenience stores, major retailers like Walmart and Target, and increasingly, online grocery services. Your EBT card functions like a regular debit card at these locations, allowing you to purchase eligible food items such as fresh produce, proteins, dairy, grains, and other household food necessities. Non-food items, prepared foods, and certain restricted categories cannot be purchased with SNAP benefits.

Understanding when your EBT card reloads helps you plan your monthly food purchases more effectively and ensures you’re aware of when funds become available for use.