When are SNAP benefits paid in Florida in May 2026? The complete payment schedule

In the U.S., there are various forms of economic aid - including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, popularly known as SNAP. Each month, SNAP helps low-income families to purchase food.

The program, formerly known as Food Stamps, is financed through the Department of Agriculture (USDA), but the distribution of funds is administered at the state level. In the case of Florida, SNAP payments are handled by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF).

The funds allotted to each beneficiary are issued to an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, a special debit card that can be used at approved grocery stores and retailers.

When are SNAP benefits paid out in Florida in May 2026?

In Florida, SNAP benefits are sent out between the first and 28th of each month, based on the eighth and ninth digits of your Florida case number.

The formula Florida uses for distributing SNAP benefits takes the ninth digit followed by the eighth digit of a person’s case number to create a two-digit number, which corresponds to the day someone receives its benefits. If a recipient’s ninth digit is 0 and their eighth digit is 1, then the number in this formula would be 01, corresponding to the first day of the month.

• 00-03: 1st of the month
• 04-06: 2nd of the month
• 07-10: 3rd of the month
• 11-13: 4th of the month
• 14-17: 5th of the month
• 18-20: 6th of the month
• 21-24: 7th of the month
• 25-27: 8th of the month
• 28-31: 9th of the month
• 32-34: 10th of the month
• 35-38: 11th of the month
• 39-41: 12th of the month
• 42-45: 13th of the month
• 46-48: 14th of the month
• 49-53: 15th of the month
• 54-57: 16th of the month
• 58-60: 17th of the month
• 61-64: 18th of the month
• 65-67: 19th of the month
• 68-71: 20th of the month
• 72-74: 21st of the month
• 75-78: 22nd of the month
• 79-81: 23rd of the month
• 82-85: 24th of the month
• 86-88: 25th of the month
• 89-92: 26th of the month
• 93-95: 27th of the month
• 96-99: 28th of the month

You’ll find your case number on your benefits approval letter, which is sent by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) after approval of a benefits claim.

SNAP benefits are deposited once a day, before 6:00 a.m., so on the day your payment is sent, your money will be available early. To check the status of your payment, log in to your account on the state’s MyACCESS webportal.

How much are SNAP benefits in Florida?

The maximum monthly SNAP benefit available that an eligible household depends on the number of people living in that household. The following amounts went into effect on October 1, 2025 and will be valid through September 2026:

• 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

What can you buy with an EBT card?

Per the USDA, EBT cards can be used at any location that accepts SNAP benefits to purchase household food items, including:

• 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

However, SNAP benefits cannot be used to buy:

• Alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, liquor)
• Tobacco products
• Vitamins, medicines, and supplements
• Live animals
• Hot foods sold at the point of sale
• Non-food items (e.g., cleaning supplies, pet food, paper products).

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