Understanding Your SNAP Reload Schedule: When Does Your EBT Card Get Loaded Each Month?

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) serves millions of American families by providing monthly financial support to purchase groceries and food items. The program distributes these funds through Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards—prepaid debit cards that get credited with your monthly allowance. One of the most common questions beneficiaries ask is about their SNAP reload date, since knowing when money arrives helps families plan their grocery shopping and household budgeting.

The reality is that there’s no single national reload date. Instead, SNAP reload schedules are managed individually by each state, meaning your EBT card might be credited on a completely different day than your neighbor’s—even if you live in the same city. Understanding your specific reload date requires knowing which state manages your benefits and what personal identifier the state uses to stagger distributions throughout the month.

How SNAP Benefits Work and Why Reload Dates Vary by State

SNAP benefits are designed to reduce the administrative burden on state systems by spreading benefit distributions across the entire month rather than depositing everything on a single day. Most states distribute SNAP funds between the 1st and 10th of the month, though some states extend their distribution windows into later dates.

The primary reason for this variation is practical: by staggering when EBT cards get credited, state agencies prevent overwhelming banking systems and reduce the risk of fraud. Additionally, states use different methods to determine individual reload dates—some base it on your Social Security number, others use your last name, case number, or even your birth year.

Most beneficiaries receive their SNAP money on the same calendar date each month. For example, if your benefits load on the 7th this month, they’ll typically arrive on the 7th of every subsequent month, assuming your case remains active. This consistency allows families to budget their food purchases and plan weekly grocery trips around their known credit dates.

The Key Factors That Determine Your Specific SNAP Reload Date

Your state uses one or more personal identifiers to assign you a particular reload day. The most common determining factors include:

• Last digit of your Social Security number — States like Arkansas, Colorado, and Louisiana use this method
• First letter of your last name — Connecticut, Delaware, and Indiana rely on this system
• Case number or ID number — Many states including Alabama, Montana, and Ohio use this approach
• Combination of factors — Some states like Missouri mix multiple identifiers such as birth month plus last name
• Date of application approval — Washington state uses this unique method to schedule reloads

To find your exact SNAP reload date, the easiest method is visiting your state’s official benefits website or calling your state’s SNAP office. Most state agencies provide online portals where you can look up your specific reload schedule by entering your information. If you can’t locate your state’s official resources, you can visit the SNAP administration website and search the “Benefits in My State” section.

Complete State-by-State Guide: When Your SNAP Benefits Reload

Here’s how SNAP reload schedules break down across all 50 states, plus Washington, D.C., and U.S. territories:

Southern States:

• Alabama: 4th–23rd (based on case number)
• Arkansas: 4th–13th (based on last digit of Social Security number)
• Florida: 1st–28th (based on 9th and 8th digits of case number)
• Georgia: 5th–23rd (based on last two digits of ID number)
• Kentucky: 1st–19th (based on last digit of Social Security number)
• Louisiana: 1st–14th (based on last digit of Social Security number)
• Mississippi: 4th–21st (based on last two digits of case number)
• North Carolina: 3rd–21st (based on last digit of Social Security number)
• South Carolina: 1st–19th (based on last digit of case number)
• Tennessee: 1st–20th (based on last two digits of Social Security number)
• Texas: 1st–15th (based on last digit of Eligibility Determination Group number)
• Virginia: 1st–9th (based on last digit of case number)
• West Virginia: 1st–9th (based on first letter of last name)

Midwest and Great Plains States:

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

Mountain West and Pacific States:

• Alaska: 1st of month
• Arizona: 1st–13th (based on first letter of last name)
• California: 1st–10th (based on last digit of case number)
• Hawaii: 3rd–5th (based on first letter of last name)
• Idaho: 1st–10th (based on last digit of birth year)
• Montana: 2nd–6th (based on last digit of case number)
• Nevada: 1st–10th (based on last digit of birth year)
• New Mexico: 1st–20th (based on last two digits of Social Security number)
• Oregon: 1st–9th (based on last digit of Social Security number)
• Utah: 5th, 11th, or 15th (based on first letter of last name)
• Vermont: 1st of month
• Washington: Staggered based on application and approval dates
• Washington, D.C.: 1st–10th (based on first letter of last name)

Northeast States:

• Connecticut: 1st–3rd (based on first letter of last name)
• Delaware: 2nd–24th (based on first letter of last name)
• Maine: 10th–14th (based on last digit of birthday)
• Maryland: 4th–23rd (based on first letter of last name)
• Massachusetts: 1st–14th (based on last digit of Social Security number)
• New Hampshire: 5th of month
• New Jersey: 1st–5th (based on 7th digit of case number)
• New York: 1st–9th (based on last digit of case number); 13 days in New York City
• Pennsylvania: 1st–10th business days (based on last digit of case record number)
• Rhode Island: 1st of month

U.S. Territories:

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

Where and How to Use Your EBT Card After SNAP Reloads

Once your SNAP benefits are credited to your EBT card, you can spend them at authorized retailers throughout the country. Accepted locations include traditional supermarkets, farmers’ markets, convenience stores, warehouse clubs like Walmart and Target, and an increasing number of online grocery delivery services.

Your EBT card works like a regular debit card at checkout—you’ll insert it into the payment terminal and enter your PIN. The key restriction is that SNAP benefits can only purchase food items for household consumption. Eligible foods include fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, seafood, dairy products, breads, cereals, snack foods, and beverages. Non-eligible items include prepared foods, hot meals, tobacco, alcohol, vitamins, and personal care products.

Knowing your SNAP reload date helps you coordinate your meal planning and grocery shopping schedule. Many families find it helpful to do their major shopping immediately after their benefits load, ensuring they have adequate food supplies for the month ahead. If you ever forget when your SNAP reloads, simply check your state’s online system or call your state SNAP office for quick confirmation.