The SNAP program, previously known as Food Stamps, provides financial assistance to eligible low-income households to help them purchase approved food items. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), while payments in Texas are administered by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC).
Texas has around 3.5 million SNAP recipients. Benefits are deposited onto the Lone Star Card, an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card that works like a debit card and can be used at approved retailers.
How Texas Determines SNAP Payment Dates
The payment date depends on when a household was certified for benefits and the recipient’s eligibility determination group number. According to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), Texas uses three different payment schedules to distribute SNAP benefits during the month.
Households certified after May 1, 2023, receive benefits between the 1st and 28th of each month. The payment date is based on the last digit or last two digits of the eligibility determination group number.
Households certified before May 1, 2023, keep their previous issuance schedule unless they experience a break in benefits of at least six months and reapply after May 1, 2023.
Benefits certified after June 1, 2020, but before May 1, 2023, are paid between the 16th and 28th of each month. Benefits certified before June 1, 2020, are issued over 15 days beginning on the 1st of the month.
Recipients can find their eligibility determination group number on the TF0001 award letter, which also shows their payment date. Those who need assistance can call 800-777-7328 or 2-1-1.
Full Texas SNAP Payment Schedule for July 2026
For households certified after May 1, 2023, payments are issued according to the following schedule:
- Eligibility group numbers 00-03: July 1
- 04-06: July 2
- 07-10: July 3
- 11-13: July 4
- 14-17: July 5
- 18-20: July 6
- 21-24: July 7
- 25-27: July 8
- 28-31: July 9
- 32-34: July 10
- 35-38: July 11
- 39-41: July 12
- 42-45: July 13
- 46-49: July 14
- 50-53: July 15
- 54-57: July 16
- 58-60: July 17
- 61-64: July 18
- 65-67: July 19
- 68-71: July 20
- 72-74: July 21
- 75-78: July 22
- 79-81: July 23
- 82-85: July 24
- 86-88: July 25
- 89-92: July 26
- 93-95: July 27
- 96-99: July 28
For households certified after June 1, 2020, but before May 1, 2023, the payment schedule is:
- Eligibility group numbers 00-03 and 54-57: July 16
- 04-06 and 58-60: July 17
- 07-10 and 61-64: July 18
- 11-13 and 65-67: July 19
- 14-17 and 68-71: July 20
- 18-20 and 72-74: July 21
- 21-24 and 75-78: July 22
- 25-27 and 79-81: July 23
- 28-31 and 82-85: July 24
- 32-34 and 86-88: July 25
- 35-38 and 89-92: July 26
- 39-41, 46-49 and 93-95: July 27
- 42-45, 50-53 and 96-99: July 28
For households certified before June 1, 2020, payments are based on the final digit of the eligibility determination group number:
- Number 0: July 1
- 1: July 3
- 2: July 5
- 3: July 6
- 4: July 7
- 5: July 9
- 6: July 11
- 7: July 12
- 8: July 13
- 9: July 15
Payments are usually deposited before 8:00 a.m. on the scheduled issuance date. Recipients can check their payment information through YourTexasBenefits.com.
SNAP Benefit Amounts and Approved Purchases
According to the USDA, the maximum SNAP benefit amounts in effect from October 1, 2025, through September 2026 depend on household size:
- 1 member: $298
- 2 members: $546
- 3 members: $785
- 4 members: $994
- 5 members: $1,183
- 6 members: $1,421
- 7 members: $1,571
- 8 members: $1,789
- Each additional member: +$218
SNAP benefits can be used at approved retailers for household food items. Eligible purchases include:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Meat, poultry and fish
- Dairy products
- Bread and cereals
- Snacks and non-alcoholic beverages
- Seeds and plants that produce food for the household
SNAP benefits cannot be used for:
- Alcoholic beverages, including beer, wine and liquor
- Tobacco products
- Vitamins, medicines and supplements
- Live animals
- Hot foods sold at the point of sale
- Non-food items such as cleaning supplies, pet food and paper products
The HHSC provides a frequently asked questions page for Lone Star Card users who need additional information about their accounts.
