The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps, is designed to help low-income American families tackle food insecurity. This federally funded program, managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, operates at the state level and distributes benefits through Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards. These cards are replenished monthly and can be used to buy a variety of food items, though there are some restrictions. For example, SNAP benefits cannot be used for hot foods, alcohol, tobacco, gas, or non-food household items.
Eligibility for SNAP benefits depends on several factors including household income, family size, age, and employment status. For more detailed information, visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website.
SNAP Payment Dates by State
The payment schedule for SNAP benefits varies by state and is often determined by factors such as the case number or the recipient’s last name. Here is a summary of SNAP payment dates for each state:
- Alabama: 4th to 23rd (based on the last two digits of the case number)
- Arizona: 1st to 13th (based on the first letter of the last name)
- Arkansas: 4th to 13th (based on the last digit of the SSN)
- California: 1st to 10th (based on the last digit of the case number)
- Colorado: 1st to 10th (based on the last digit of the SSN)
- Connecticut: 1st to 3rd (based on the first letter of the last name)
- Delaware: 2nd to 24th (based on the first letter of the last name)
- District of Columbia: 1st to 10th (based on the first letter of the last name)
- Florida: 1st to 28th (based on the 9th and 8th digits of the case number, read backwards, dropping the 10th digit)
- Georgia: 5th to 23rd (based on the last two digits of the ID #)
- Guam: 1st to 10th (based on the last digit of the SSN)
- Hawaii: 3rd and 5th (based on the first letter of the last name)
- Idaho: 1st to 10th (based on the last digit of the birth year)
- Illinois: 1st to 10th (for new households based on the last digit of the Head of Household Individual ID number)
- Indiana: 5th to 23rd (based on the first letter of the last name)
- Iowa: 1st to 10th (based on the first letter of the last name)
- Kansas: 1st to 10th (based on the first letter of the last name)
- Kentucky: 1st to 19th (based on the last digit of the case number)
- Louisiana: 1st to 23rd (based on the last digit of the SSN)
- Maine: 10th to 14th (based on the last digit of the birth day)
- Maryland: 4th to 23rd (based on the first three letters of the last name)
- Massachusetts: 1st to 14th (based on the last digit of the SSN)
- Michigan: 3rd to 21st (based on the last digit of the ID #)
- Minnesota: 4th to 13th (based on the last digit of the case number)
- Mississippi: 4th to 21st (based on the last two digits of the case number)
- Missouri: 1st to 22nd (based on the birth month and last name)
- Montana: 2nd to 6th (based on the last digit of the CHIMES case number)
- Nebraska: 1st to 5th (based on the last digit of the head of household’s SSN)
- Nevada: 1st to 10th (based on the last digit of the household’s birth year)
- New Hampshire: 5th
- New Jersey: 1st to 5th (based on the 7th digit of the case number)
- New Mexico: 1st to 20th (based on the last two digits of the SSN)
- New York: Varies by county (based on the last digit of the case number)
- North Carolina: 3rd to 21st (based on the last digit of the primary cardholder’s SSN)
- North Dakota: 1st
- Ohio: 2nd to 20th (based on the last digit of the SNAP case number)
- Oklahoma: 1st to 10th (based on the last digit of the SNAP case number)
- Oregon: 1st to 9th (based on the last digit of the SSN)
- Pennsylvania: 1st to 10th business days (based on the last digit of the 7-digit case record number)
- Puerto Rico: 4th to 22nd (based on the last digit of the SSN)
- Rhode Island: 1st
- South Carolina: 1st to 10th (based on the last digit of the SNAP case number for ongoing households approved before September 1, 2012)
- South Dakota: 10th
- Tennessee: Based on the last two digits of the head of household’s SSN
- Texas: 16th to 28th (for households certified after June 1, 2020, based on the last two digits of the EDG number)
- Utah: 5th, 11th, or 15th (based on the first letter of the last name)
- Vermont: 1st
- Virgin Islands: 1st
- Virginia: 1st to 7th (based on the last digits of the case number)
- Washington: 1st to 20th
- West Virginia: 1st to 9th (based on the first letter of the last name)
- Wisconsin: 1st to 15th (based on the 8th digit of the SSN)
- Wyoming: 1st to 4th (based on the first letter of the last name)
State Benefits Overview
Among the states, Hawaii provides the highest SNAP benefits, offering $385 per month per household member as of 2023. This amount is significantly higher than benefits in many other states.
California, on the other hand, has the highest number of SNAP recipients, with 4.6 million people enrolled as of 2022. New Mexico has the highest percentage of claimants relative to its population, with 25% of residents receiving SNAP benefits.
For further details about SNAP benefits and eligibility, consult your local state agency or visit the USDA’s website.
Rubby Cordelia is a finance journalist for WVPrepBB.com, bringing expertise and clarity to her reporting on financial news. With a passion for demystifying complex economic issues, Rubby delivers insightful analysis and up-to-date information on the latest market trends, financial policies, and economic developments. Her work on WVPrepBB.com is essential reading for anyone looking to stay informed about the ever-changing world of finance.
