The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps, provides essential financial assistance to low- and no-income families across the United States, enabling them to purchase necessary groceries. As of January 1, 2025, SNAP benefits will be distributed to recipients throughout the month, with payment schedules varying by state.
SNAP distribution schedules
While SNAP is federally funded, each state administers its own distribution schedule, leading to differences in payment dates. These schedules are often determined by factors such as the recipient’s case number or the initial letter of their last name. For instance, in California, benefits are distributed between the 1st and 10th of each month based on the last digit of the case number.
In contrast, states like Connecticut and Delaware distribute benefits according to the initial letter of the recipient’s last name. Smaller states, such as Alaska and South Dakota, may process all SNAP payments on a designated day.
January 2025 SNAP payment schedule by state
Here is the SNAP payment schedule for January 2025 across various states:
Alabama: January 4–23
Alaska: January 1
Arizona: January 1–13
Arkansas: January 4–13
California: January 1–10
Colorado: January 1–10
Connecticut: January 1–3
Delaware: January 2–23
Florida: January 1–28
Georgia: January 5–23
Hawaii: January 3–5
Idaho: January 1–10
Illinois: January 1–10
Indiana: January 5–23
Iowa: January 1–10
Kansas: January 1–10
Kentucky: January 1–19
Louisiana: January 1–23
Maine: January 10–14
Maryland: January 4–23
Massachusetts: January 1–14
Michigan: January 3–21
Minnesota: January 4–13
Mississippi: January 4–21
Missouri: January 1–22
Montana: January 2–6
Nebraska: January 1–5
Nevada: January 1–10
New Hampshire: January 5
New Jersey: January 1–5
New Mexico: January 1–20
New York: January 1–9
North Carolina: January 3–21
North Dakota: January 1
Ohio: January 2–20
Oklahoma: January 1–10
Oregon: January 1–9
Pennsylvania: First 10 business days of January
Rhode Island: January 1
South Carolina: January 1–10
South Dakota: January 10
Tennessee: January 1–20
Texas: January 1–28
Utah: January 5, 11, and 15
Vermont: January 1
Virginia: January 1–7
Washington: January 1–20
West Virginia: January 1–9
Wisconsin: January 1–15
Wyoming: January 1–4
Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA) for 2025
In response to inflation and rising living costs, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has implemented Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA) for SNAP benefits, effective October 1, 2024, through September 30, 2025. These adjustments aim to provide additional support to beneficiaries. The maximum allotment for a family of four in the 48 contiguous states and D.C. has increased to $975. In Alaska, maximum allotments for a family of four range from $1,258 to $1,953, depending on the region. In Hawaii, the maximum allotment for a family of four is $1,723. The minimum benefit for the 48 states and D.C. remains at $23.
Potential policy changes under the new administration
With President-elect Donald Trump set to take office in January 2025, discussions have emerged regarding potential changes to SNAP policies. Notably, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has expressed intentions to request a waiver to restrict SNAP purchases to healthy foods within the state. Such a move would prevent beneficiaries from using SNAP funds to buy items like soda and processed foods, aiming to promote healthier eating habits among recipients. Governor Sanders stated, “It is not sensible for taxpayers to subsidize unhealthy foods.”
Additionally, the Trump administration has previously proposed significant cuts to SNAP and other social safety net programs. While similar efforts faced challenges during his earlier term, the current political landscape may influence the feasibility of such proposals. Analysts suggest that substantial reductions in programs like SNAP could face opposition from various stakeholders, including retailers who benefit from SNAP revenue.
