When Do SNAP Payments Hit Your EBT Card? Complete 2025 Guide by State

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides monthly nutrition support to low-income households through Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards. Unlike a single deposit date, most states distribute SNAP funds across multiple days within each month—meaning your November SNAP payments and December EBT schedule depend entirely on where you live.

How SNAP Payments Work: The Basics

Your SNAP benefits arrive as funds loaded onto a prepaid debit card issued by your state. These funds can purchase eligible food items—produce, dairy, meat, grains, and more—at authorized retailers including grocery stores, farmers markets, and large retailers like Walmart and Target. Some states also allow online grocery purchases through participating retailers.

The key factor determining when your funds arrive each month: your identifier. States use different criteria—your Social Security number’s last digit, the first letter of your last name, your case number, or your ID number—to stagger distributions across the month. This prevents system overload and ensures consistent monthly support.

New applicants typically receive their initial SNAP funds between the 1st and 10th of their application month, after eligibility confirmation.

Finding Your Personal EBT Schedule

To discover your exact payment date, visit your state’s official EBT portal and select your state from the dropdown menu. This guarantees accuracy for your November SNAP payments and December EBT schedule, since distribution dates never change month-to-month for individual recipients.

State-by-State SNAP Payment Schedules

Alabama: 4th–23rd (based on case number)
Alaska: 1st
Arizona: 1st–13th (based on last name’s first letter)
Arkansas: 4th–13th (based on SSN last digit)
California: 1st–10th (based on case number last digit)
Colorado: 1st–10th (based on SSN last digit)
Connecticut: 1st–3rd (based on last name’s first letter)
Delaware: 2nd–24th over 23 days (based on last name’s first letter)
Florida: 1st–28th (based on case number digits 8–9)
Georgia: 5th–23rd (based on ID number last two digits)
Guam: 1st–10th
Hawaii: 3rd–5th (based on last name’s first letter)
Idaho: 1st–10th (based on birth year’s last digit)
Illinois: 1st–20th (based on case type and name)
Indiana: 5th–23rd (based on last name’s first letter)
Iowa: 1st–10th (based on last name’s first letter)
Kansas: 1st–10th (based on last name’s first letter)
Kentucky: 1st–19th (based on SSN last digit)
Louisiana: 1st–14th (based on SSN last digit)
Maine: 10th–14th (based on birthday’s last digit)
Maryland: 4th–23rd (based on last name’s first letter)
Massachusetts: 1st–14th (based on SSN last digit)
Michigan: 3rd–21st (based on ID number last two digits)
Minnesota: 4th–13th (based on case number last digit)
Mississippi: 4th–21st (based on case number last two digits)
Missouri: 1st–22nd (based on birth month and last name)
Montana: 2nd–6th (based on case number last digit)
Nebraska: 1st–5th (based on head of household’s SSN last digit)
Nevada: 1st–10th (based on birth year’s last digit)
New Hampshire: 5th
New Jersey: 1st–5th (based on case number 7th digit)
New Mexico: 1st–20th (based on SSN last two digits)
New York: 1st–9th (last digit of case number); New York City uses staggered 13-day schedule excluding Sundays and holidays
North Carolina: 3rd–21st (based on SSN last digit)
North Dakota: 1st
Ohio: 2nd–20th (based on case number last digit)
Oklahoma: 1st–10th (based on case number last digit)
Oregon: 1st–9th (based on SSN last digit)
Pennsylvania: 1st–10th business days (based on case record number last digit)
Puerto Rico: 4th–22nd (based on SSN last digit)
Rhode Island: 1st
South Carolina: 1st–19th (based on case number last digit)
South Dakota: 10th
Tennessee: 1st–20th (based on SSN last two digits)
Texas: 1st–15th (based on EDG number last digit)
Utah: 5th, 11th, or 15th (based on last name’s first letter)
Vermont: 1st
Virginia: 1st–9th (based on case number last digit)
Washington: Throughout month (staggered by application date and approval date)
Washington, D.C.: 1st–10th (based on last name’s first letter)
West Virginia: 1st–9th (based on last name’s first letter)
Wisconsin: 1st–15th (based on SSN 8th digit)
Wyoming: 1st–4th (based on last name’s first letter)

Why Staggered Schedules Matter

Individual states control SNAP distribution timing. This means recipients across the U.S. won’t all receive their December EBT schedule funds on identical dates, even though every eligible household receives the same monthly benefit amount. Staggering prevents infrastructure strain and helps states manage processing loads efficiently.

Where You Can Spend Your SNAP Benefits

EBT cards work at any SNAP-authorized retailer—the vast majority of supermarkets, select convenience stores, farmers markets, big-box retailers, and certain online grocers. Your funds purchase eligible food only; alcohol, hot prepared foods, and non-food items are excluded.

Plan ahead for your November SNAP payments and December EBT schedule by checking your state’s official website or contacting your local benefits office with questions.