Your Guide to When Food Stamps Renew Each Month: State-by-State Schedule

If you receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits—commonly known as food stamps—understanding when your benefits renew each month is crucial for planning your grocery budget. The timing of when food stamps renew varies significantly depending on where you live, as each state sets its own schedule for when benefits get loaded onto Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards. In 2026, most states continue to follow established patterns, depositing food assistance funds on specific dates each month rather than sending everything at once.

Understanding How Food Stamps Renew Throughout the Month

The way your food stamps renew isn’t random. Instead of everyone receiving benefits on the same day, states stagger the renewal dates to distribute the workload and ensure the system runs smoothly. Most states use a specific identifier tied to your household to determine your personal renewal date—typically the last digit of your Social Security number, the final numbers of your case number, the first letter of your last name, or some combination of these factors.

When you first apply for SNAP and gain eligibility, your benefits usually renew and deposit between the 1st and 10th of each month, though some states have longer distribution windows extending into the 20s. The benefit amount itself gets loaded onto a prepaid debit card—your EBT card—which works like any other card at grocery stores and food retailers.

What Determines When Your EBT Card Benefits Get Renewed

The specific day when your food stamps renew depends on several personal identifiers assigned to your case. Here’s what typically controls your renewal date:

• Your Social Security number (usually the final digit)
• Your case number (sometimes the last digit or digit pair)
• Your last name (often the first letter)
• Your birth year or birth month
• Your county or region of residence

This system was designed so that not everyone rushes to use their benefits on the same day, which would overwhelm retailers and strain the system. By spreading out when food stamps renew across the month, states ensure more consistent shopping patterns and better program management.

Renewing Your Food Stamps: The Complete State Directory

Each state operates its own schedule for when SNAP benefits renew. Below is the comprehensive breakdown:

Northeast Region:

• Connecticut: Benefits renew from the 1st to the 3rd of the month, based on the first letter of your last name
• Maine: Food stamps renew between the 10th and 14th, determined by the last digit of your birthday
• Massachusetts: Renewal dates span the first 14 days, based on the final digit of your Social Security number
• New Hampshire: Your SNAP benefits renew on the 5th of every month
• New Jersey: Food stamps renew during the first 5 calendar days, according to the 7th digit of your case number
• New York: Renewal dates fall between the 1st and 9th (except NYC, where they’re spread over 13 non-holiday weekdays), based on your case number’s last digit
• Pennsylvania: Food stamps renew during the first 10 business days, determined by your case record number’s final digit
• Rhode Island: Benefits renew on the 1st of the month
• Vermont: Your food stamps renew on the 1st
• Washington, D.C.: Renewal dates span from the 1st to the 10th, based on the first letter of your last name

Mid-Atlantic Region:

• Delaware: Benefits renew over 23 days starting from the 2nd, determined by the first letter of your last name
• Maryland: Food stamps renew between the 4th and 23rd, based on the first letter of your last name
• Virginia: Renewal dates range from the 1st to the 9th, according to your case number’s last digit
• West Virginia: Food stamps renew during the first nine days, determined by the first letter of your last name

Southeast Region:

• Alabama: Benefits renew between the 4th and 23rd, based on your case number
• Arkansas: Food stamps renew between the 4th and 13th, determined by the last digit of your Social Security number
• Florida: Renewal dates span the 1st to the 28th, based on specific digits of your case number
• Georgia: Benefits renew between the 5th and 23rd, according to the last two digits of your ID number
• Kentucky: Food stamps renew during the first 19 days, determined by the final digit of your Social Security number
• Louisiana: Renewal dates range from the 1st to the 14th, based on the last digit of your Social Security number
• Mississippi: Benefits renew between the 4th and 21st, according to the last two digits of your case number
• North Carolina: Food stamps renew from the 3rd to the 21st, determined by the final digit of your Social Security number
• South Carolina: Renewal dates span the 1st to the 19th, based on your case number’s last digit
• Tennessee: Benefits renew from the 1st to the 20th, according to the last two digits of your Social Security number

Midwest Region:

• Illinois: Food stamps renew between the 1st and 20th, based on case type and case name combination
• Indiana: Renewal dates range from the 5th to the 23rd, determined by the first letter of your last name
• Iowa: Benefits renew during the first 10 days, based on the first letter of your last name
• Kansas: Food stamps renew during the first 10 days, according to the first letter of your last name
• Michigan: Renewal dates span the 3rd to the 21st, based on the last two digits of your ID number
• Minnesota: Benefits renew between the 4th and 13th, determined by the last digit of your case number
• Missouri: Food stamps renew between the 1st and 22nd, based on your birth month and last name
• Nebraska: Renewal dates range from the 1st to the 5th, according to the last digit of your household head’s Social Security number
• North Dakota: Benefits renew on the 1st
• Ohio: Food stamps renew from the 2nd to the 20th, based on your case number’s last digit
• Wisconsin: Renewal dates span the first 15 days, determined by the eighth digit of your Social Security number

South-Central Region:

• Oklahoma: Benefits renew from the 1st to the 10th, based on your case number’s last digit
• Texas: Food stamps renew during the first 15 days, determined by the last digit of your EDG (Eligibility Determination Group) number

Mountain & Western Region:

• Arizona: Renewal dates range from the 1st to the 13th, based on the first letter of your last name
• California: Food stamps renew during the first 10 days, determined by the last digit of your case number
• Colorado: Benefits renew between the 1st and 10th, based on the final digit of your Social Security number
• Idaho: Food stamps renew during the first 10 days, according to the last number of your birth year
• Montana: Renewal dates span the 2nd to the 6th, based on your case number’s last digit
• Nevada: Benefits renew during the first 10 days, determined by the last number of your birth year
• New Mexico: Food stamps renew during the first 20 days, based on the last two digits of your Social Security number
• Oregon: Renewal dates range from the 1st to the 9th, according to your Social Security number’s final digit
• South Dakota: Benefits renew on the 10th
• Utah: Food stamps renew on the 5th, 11th, or 15th, based on the first letter of your last name
• Washington: Benefits renew staggered throughout the month based on your application and approval dates
• Wyoming: Food stamps renew from the 1st to the 4th, determined by the first letter of your last name

U.S. Territories:

• Alaska: Benefits renew on the 1st
• Guam: Renewal dates span the 1st to the 10th
• Hawaii: Food stamps renew on the 3rd and 5th, based on the first letter of your last name
• Puerto Rico: Benefits renew between the 4th and 22nd, according to the final digit of your Social Security number

Where You Can Use Your Renewed SNAP Benefits

Once your food stamps renew and load onto your EBT card, you have multiple options for where to spend them. Most major supermarkets accept SNAP benefits, as do many convenience stores, warehouse clubs like Walmart and Target, and even certain farmers’ markets. The good news is that many online grocery retailers now accept EBT cards as well, expanding your shopping flexibility beyond physical locations.

Your renewed SNAP benefits can purchase approved food items—fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, breads, cereals, and other basic groceries. The key is choosing SNAP-authorized retailers and only purchasing eligible foods. Remember that each state operates independently, so if you move or travel, your renewal date might change, and you should verify the new schedule for your state.

Knowing exactly when your food stamps renew helps you plan your monthly grocery shopping more effectively and ensures you’re using your benefits at the right time.