If you rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to get by each month, then knowing when your benefits will land on your card is crucial. While SNAP is federally funded, every state sets its own schedule. That means when you get paid depends entirely on where you live—and sometimes even on the last digit of your case number or the first letter of your last name.
In short, SNAP benefits do not hit everyone’s card on the same day. Some states spread payments out over several days, even up to three weeks.
Why do SNAP payment dates vary by state?
This is something a lot of people ask—and it makes sense. SNAP is managed differently in every state. Although the money comes from the federal government, it is your state that actually distributes it. So, depending on your state’s system, your benefits may be issued based on:
- The last digits of your case or Social Security number
- The first letter of your last name
- Your birth month or application date
For example, if you are in California, your SNAP benefits will come sometime between May 1 and May 10, depending on your case number. But if you are in Alaska, everyone gets paid on May 1—simple and fast.
Which states send SNAP benefits early in May?
Some states give SNAP benefits to people right at the start of the month. If you are in one of these, you are likely to see your EBT card loaded sooner:
- Alaska: May 1
- Rhode Island: May 1
- North Dakota: May 1
- Vermont: May 1
- Virgin Islands: May 1
Even big states like Texas and Florida begin issuing on May 1, though they continue all the way through to May 28 depending on your details.
States with longer SNAP distribution periods
Living in a state with a longer payment window? Then your SNAP deposit might not show up right away. Here are a few states with longer schedules:
- Florida: May 1 to May 28
- Texas: May 1 to May 28
- Georgia: May 5 to May 23
- Indiana: May 5 to May 23
- Maryland: May 4 to May 23
If you are in one of these states, you will want to check with your local SNAP office or use your state’s online portal to know your exact date.
Full list: SNAP payment dates by state for May 2025
Here is the complete list of SNAP payment schedules across all U.S. states and territories for May 2025:
- Alabama: May 4 to 23
- Alaska: May 1
- Arizona: May 1 to 13
- Arkansas: May 4 to 13
- California: May 1 to 10
- Colorado: May 1 to 10
- Connecticut: May 1 to 3
- Delaware: May 2 to 23
- District of Columbia: May 1 to 10
- Florida: May 1 to 28
- Georgia: May 5 to 23
- Guam: May 1 to 10
- Hawaii: May 3 to 5
- Idaho: May 1 to 10
- Illinois: May 1 to 20
- Indiana: May 5 to 23
- Iowa: May 1 to 10
- Kansas: May 1 to 10
- Kentucky: May 1 to 19
- Louisiana: May 1 to 23
- Maine: May 10 to 14
- Maryland: May 4 to 23
- Massachusetts: May 1 to 14
- Michigan: May 3 to 21
- Minnesota: May 4 to 13
- Mississippi: May 4 to 21
- Missouri: May 1 to 22
- Montana: May 2 to 6
- Nebraska: May 1 to 5
- Nevada: May 1 to 10
- New Hampshire: May 5
- New Jersey: May 1 to 5
- New Mexico: May 1 to 20
- New York: May 1 to 9
- North Carolina: May 3 to 21
- North Dakota: May 1
- Ohio: May 2 to 20
- Oklahoma: May 1 to 10
- Oregon: May 1 to 9
- Pennsylvania: May 3 to 14
- Puerto Rico: May 4 to May 22
- Rhode Island: May 1
- South Carolina: May 1 to 19
- South Dakota: May 10
- Tennessee: May 1 to 20
- Texas: May 1 to 28
- Utah: May 5, 11 and 15
- Virgin Islands: May 1
- Vermont: May 1
- Virginia: May 1 to 7
- Washington: May 1 to 20
- West Virginia: May 1 to 9
- Wisconsin: May 1 to 15
- Wyoming: May 1 to 4
Continue reading:
Can I have SNAP Payments if I own a home and what about Food Stamps?
If my monthly income is $1800, I will be eligible for SNAP Payments (Food Stamps) in 2025?
