SNAP payments will be issued to recipients throughout May, but not everyone will be paid on the same date.
Commonly known as food stamps, SNAP benefits are paid to low- and no-income individuals and families who would otherwise struggle to afford basic groceries and necessities. But when they receive the entitlement depends on the state or territory in which they live.
Despite the federal government providing the funds, each state has its own regulations regarding payment dates, resulting in discrepancies among payment schedules nationwide. For example, in Alabama, the date depends on the case number. Those who have a case number that ends in 01 will get their benefits earlier in the month than those who have a case number ending in 99.
Other states like Utah pay according to the first letter of the last name—the same method as Social Security payments. Some states, particularly those with smaller populations like Rhode Island and Vermont, send out all SNAP payments on the same day.
Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty
SNAP benefits will be paid on or between the following dates in each state, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture:
- 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 10
- 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 10-14
- 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 10
- South Dakota: May 10
- Tennessee: May 1 to 20
- Texas: May 1 to 28
- Utah: May 5, 11 and 15
- Vermont: May 1
- Virginia: May 1 to 7
- Virgin Islands: May 1
- Washington: May 1 to 20
- West Virginia: May 1 to 9
- Wisconsin: May 1 to 15
- Wyoming: May 1 to 4.
The U.S. Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) recently announced several changes that will affect SNAP claimants. The FNS recently updated the list of foods recipients can buy with their electronic benefit transfer cards, and also announced changes to working requirements and time limits on being able to collect the benefit.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.