Do SNAP Benefits Roll Over to the Next Month? Here's What the USDA Says

If you receive food stamps through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—commonly known as SNAP—you might wonder what happens to any money left on your card when the month ends. The short answer, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is yes: your unused SNAP benefits do carry forward into the following month, so no funds go to waste if you don’t spend everything right away.

Understanding SNAP and Your EBT Card

SNAP is a federally funded assistance program designed to help low-income individuals and families afford nutritious food. While the federal government provides the funding, each state manages its own SNAP program with some variation in application processes and specific rules. Most states now allow recipients to apply online, making it easier to get started.

Your SNAP benefits arrive on an Electronic Benefits Card—or EBT card—which functions like a prepaid debit card. You can use this card at any participating grocery store, supermarket, or authorized food vendor to purchase eligible food items. Some states have expanded the program further: farmers’ markets in many states accept EBT cards, and in Alaska, recipients can even use their benefits to purchase fishing equipment for obtaining their own food, demonstrating how flexible the program can be across different regions.

Yes, Unused SNAP Benefits Do Roll Over Monthly

The key question many recipients ask is whether any balance remaining on their card at month’s end simply disappears. The USDA confirms that it doesn’t. Any money you don’t spend in a given month automatically carries over to your account in the following month, allowing you to accumulate funds and use them whenever you need them most.

This rollover feature means you have flexibility in how you manage your nutrition budget. If you have a lower food need one month, you’re not penalized for it. That extra money stays on your card, ready for when you need it most, whether that’s the following month or even months down the line.

Each state administers its own payment schedule. For instance, one state might distribute all benefits on the first of each month, while another might stagger payments based on the last digit of your case number. Regardless of when your state deposits your SNAP funds, the rollover principle remains the same across all states: leftover benefits are yours to keep and use later.

The One-Year Inactivity Rule: When SNAP Benefits Expire

While your SNAP benefits do roll over month to month indefinitely, there is one important limitation to be aware of. According to USDA regulations, if you don’t use your EBT card for a full 12 months—meaning you make no purchases whatsoever during that one-year period—the state administering your program will permanently close your SNAP case and remove all remaining benefits from your account.

This inactivity rule is designed to ensure that benefits are distributed to people actively using the program. If your situation changes and you no longer need SNAP assistance, that’s perfectly fine. However, if you believe you might need the program again in the future, it’s worth making at least one small purchase per year to keep your account active, even if you’re not currently relying on the benefits regularly.

Understanding these rules helps you make the most of your SNAP assistance. The rollover feature means you’re not rushed to spend benefits before the month ends, and accumulated funds remain available as long as you use your card at least once annually.