When Will October 2025 SNAP Payments Be Sent Out?

Millions of Americans rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to help pay for groceries each month.

SNAP benefits are loaded onto electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards, which people can use at most grocery stores and some online shops.

Check out: New EBT Card Locking Feature Helps Fight SNAP Benefit Theft
 

Why Does SNAP Matter?

Around 42 million people use SNAP every month to buy food for themselves and their families. The timing of these payments is important because it helps people plan their grocery shopping and budgets.
 

How SNAP Payments Work

Although SNAP is funded by the federal government, each state decides when and how the payments are made. This means payment dates can be different depending on where you live.
 

• Some states, like California, pay benefits based on case numbers—for example, households with certain numbers might get their benefits earlier than others.
• Other states, like Connecticut and Delaware, use the first letter of the recipient’s last name.
• Smaller states, such as Alaska and South Dakota, often send all benefits on a single day.

 

SNAP Payment Dates for October 2025

Here are the dates when payments will be sent, by state:
 

• Alabama: October 4–23
• Alaska: October 1
• Arizona: October 1–13
• Arkansas: October 4–13
• California: October 1–10
• Colorado: October 1–10
• Connecticut: October 1–3
• Delaware: October 2–23
• District of Columbia: October 1–10
• Florida: October 1–28
• Georgia: October 5–23
• Guam: October 1–10
• Hawaii: October 3–5
• Idaho: October 1–10
• Illinois: October 1–20
• Indiana: October 5–23
• Iowa: October 1–10
• Kansas: October 1–10
• Kentucky: October 1–19
• Louisiana: October 1–23
• Maine: October 10–14
• Maryland: October 4–23
• Massachusetts: October 1–14
• Michigan: October 3–21
• Minnesota: October 4–13
• Mississippi: October 4–21
• Missouri: October 1–22
• Montana: October 2–6
• Nebraska: October 1–5
• Nevada: October 1–10
• New Hampshire: October 5
• New Jersey: October 1–5
• New Mexico: October 1–20
• New York: October 1–9
• North Carolina: October 3–21
• North Dakota: October 1
• Ohio: October 2–20
• Oklahoma: October 1–10
• Oregon: October 1–9
• Pennsylvania: October 3–14
• Puerto Rico: October 4–22
• Rhode Island: October 1
• South Carolina: October 1–19
• South Dakota: October 10
• Tennessee: October 1–20
• Texas: October 1–28
• Utah: October 5, 11, and 15
• Virgin Islands: October 1
• Vermont: October 1
• Virginia: October 1–7
• Washington: October 1–20
• West Virginia: October 1–9
• Wisconsin: October 1–15
• Wyoming: October 1–4

 

Changes Coming to SNAP

Some states will soon change what foods people can buy with SNAP benefits.

Twelve states—including Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah—are planning to block the purchase of soda, candy, and other items considered unhealthy. These changes are expected to start in early 2026.
 

SNAP Increases According to COLA 2026

In 2026, SNAP benefits are expected to increase in response to the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), which is designed to ensure that benefits keep pace with rising prices.

This adjustment is crucial for millions of recipients who rely on SNAP to purchase food as inflation impacts the cost of groceries.

Here’s a breakdown of the SNAP adjustment by household size:
 

• 1 person: $298 (up $6 from $292)
• 2 people: $546 (up $10 from $536)
• 3 people: $785 (up $17 from $768)
• 4 people: $994 (up $19 from $975)
• 5 people: $1,183 (up $25 from $1,158)
• 6 people: $1,421 (up $31 from $1,390)
• 7 people: $1,571 (up $35 from $1,536)
• 8 people: $1,789 (up $33 from $1,756)

Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories have unique SNAP income limits due to higher food costs. A family of four in Hawaii can receive up to $1,689 monthly, while those in rural Alaska can get up to $1,995.

In Guam, a four-person household can receive up to $1,465, and in the Virgin Islands, up to $1,278.

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