Understanding When Your EBT Card Reloads Each Month: Your Complete State Guide

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides monthly benefits to help low-income families purchase food. If you receive SNAP benefits, understanding when your EBT card reloads is essential for managing your monthly groceries. The specific day your benefits arrive depends on several factors, including your state of residence, the last digit of your Social Security number, your case number, or even the first letter of your last name—requirements that vary significantly across all 50 states.

The Basics of SNAP Benefits and EBT Reloading

When you qualify for SNAP, benefits arrive on your Electronic Benefits Transfer card, which functions like a prepaid debit card with your monthly allowance already loaded. The system is designed so that not all recipients receive their funds on the same date each month. Instead, states stagger the reload schedule across multiple days to manage the processing load efficiently.

In most cases, benefits for new SNAP recipients are deposited between the 1st and 10th of the month. However, some states extend this window to cover distributions throughout the entire month. The exact date you’ll see funds hit your EBT card depends primarily on a personal identifier tied to your case—most commonly your Social Security number’s last digit, your case number, or your last name’s first letter. This staggered approach means that while your benefits arrive like clockwork each month, they may not arrive on the same day as your neighbor’s, even if you live in the same state.

How States Determine Your EBT Reload Day

The most reliable way to find your specific EBT reload date is to check your state’s official SNAP website. Each state maintains a dedicated “EBT in My State” section where you can enter your personal information and discover your exact payment date. This is far simpler than trying to remember a complex formula based on your Social Security number or case identifier.

Here’s what makes each state unique: some states reload benefits during just the first few days of the month, while others stretch distributions across up to 28 days. For example, some states complete all distributions by the 10th, while others continue processing into the third week or even later. The determining factor is always tied back to that personal identifier—a mechanism that helps states evenly distribute their processing workload.

Your Complete State-by-State EBT Reload Calendar

Below is the breakdown of when each state processes SNAP benefit reloads:

States with Early-Month Processing (1st-10th): Alaska, North Dakota, Rhode Island, and Vermont process benefits on the first day of the month. Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana (partial), Nevada, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Washington, D.C. all complete distributions between the 1st and 10th, typically based on the last digit of your Social Security number or case number.

States with Mid-Month Processing (11th-15th): Connecticut processes from the 1st to the 3rd based on your last name. Hawaii reloads on the 3rd and 5th. Maine runs from the 10th to the 14th. Massachusetts covers the first 14 days. Massachusetts covers the first 14 days. New Mexico extends through the first 20 days. Texas completes distributions during the first 15 days of the month, determined by your Eligibility Determination Group number.

States with Extended Processing (16th-28th): Alabama distributes between the 4th and 23rd, based on your case number. Arkansas covers the 4th to 13th using your Social Security number’s last digit. Georgia operates between the 5th and 23rd. Florida uses a complex system covering the 1st through the 28th based on your case number’s digits. Illinois schedules from the 1st to the 20th. Indiana runs from the 5th to the 23rd. Kentucky covers through the 19th. Maryland extends from the 4th to the 23rd. Michigan operates from the 3rd to the 21st. Minnesota distributes from the 4th to the 13th. Mississippi covers the 4th through 21st. Missouri’s schedule depends on your birth month and last name. North Carolina runs from the 3rd to the 21st. Ohio processes from the 2nd to the 20th. Pennsylvania operates during the first 10 business days. Puerto Rico distributes from the 4th to the 22nd. South Carolina covers the 1st to the 19th. Tennessee runs from the 1st to the 20th. Virginia processes from the 1st to the 9th. West Virginia covers the first nine days. Wisconsin distributes during the first 15 days based on your Social Security number’s eighth digit. Wyoming covers the 1st to the 4th.

States with Unique Schedules: Delaware’s 23-day distribution begins on the 2nd. Montana concentrates benefits between the 2nd and 6th. Nebraska processes from the 1st to the 5th. New Hampshire reloads exclusively on the 5th. New York generally covers the 1st to the 9th (with New York City having a special 13-day non-Sunday/holiday schedule). South Dakota exclusively reloads on the 10th. Utah offers three specific dates (the 5th, 11th, or 15th) based on your last name. Washington’s schedule is staggered according to your application and approval dates.

Making the Most of Your SNAP Benefits

Your EBT card works at any SNAP-authorized retailer, which includes supermarkets, farmers’ markets, convenience stores, and major retailers like Walmart and Target. You can purchase any food items for your household—fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, dairy, bread, cereal, and more. Many states now allow online grocery purchases through authorized retailers as well.

Understanding your specific reload day helps you plan your monthly shopping and budget your food expenses more effectively. Mark your calendar with your state’s distribution schedule so you always know when to expect your benefits. If you ever need to verify your exact date, your state’s official SNAP website remains your most accurate resource.