SNAP benefits, formerly known as food stamps, aims to tackle the food insecurity in the United States, as it delivers funds to qualifying families for them to buy nutritious, fresh, delicious food. They can purchase at grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and other approved food retailers. Participants receive a specific amount of funds loaded onto an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card each month.
Beneficiaries in Texas are always searching everywhere on the internet for their payment dates, and it can be a little confusing. For those who receive SNAP benefits, we will try to make the search easier: below you will find the payment dates for August 2023, according to the calendar set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Food stamps in Texas: The deposit schedule for August 2023
In the state of Texas, the SNAP deposits to EBT cards will be made every month between the 1st and the 15th, and your exact day depends on the last digit of your EDG number (Eligibility Determination Group number). During the month of August 2023, there are no federal holidays that can refuse that long-awaited money, however, keep in mind that if your date falls on a weekend, they could result in you getting benefits either on the Friday before your food stamp deposit schedule or on the Monday after.
According to the schedule, these are the payment dates for every group, regarding their EDG number’s last digit, for those whose food stamps were approved before June 1, 2020:
- 0: Tuesday, August 1
- 1: Thursday, August 3
- 2: Saturday, August 5
- 3: Sunday, August 6
- 4: Monday, August 7
- 5: Wednesday, August 9
- 6: Friday, August 11
- 7: Saturday, August 12
- 8: Sunday, August 13
- 9: Tuesday, August 15
And these are the payment dates for every group, regarding their EDG number’s last two digits, for those whose food stamps were approved after June 1, 2020:
- 00-03: Wednesday; August 16
- 04-06: Thursday, August 17
- 07-10: Friday, August 18
- 11-13: Saturday; August 19
- 14-17: Sunday, August 20
- 18-20: Monday, August 21
- 21-24: Tuesday, August 22
- 25-27: Wednesday, August 23
- 28-31: Thursday, August 24
- 32-34: Friday, August 25
- 35-38: Saturday, August 26
- 39-41: Sunday, August 27
- 42-45: Monday, August 28
- 46-49: Sunday, August 27
- 50-53: Monday, August 28
- 54-57: Wednesday, August 16
- 58-60: Thursday, August 17
- 61-64: Friday, August 18
- 65-67: Saturday; August 19
- 68-71: Sunday, August 20
- 72-74: Monday, August 21
- 75-78: Tuesday, August 22
- 79-81: Wednesday, August 23
- 82-85: Thursday, August 24
- 86-88: Friday, August 25
- 89-92: Saturday, August 26
- 93-95: Sunday, August 27
- 96-99: Monday, August 28
How to apply for SNAP benefits in Texas?
To apply for SNAP benefits in Texas, you can choose one of the following methods:
- Apply Online: You can apply online through the Your Texas Benefits portal. After creating an account or logging in if you already have one, you can fill out the application for SNAP food benefits.
- Apply in Person: Visit your nearest Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) office to apply in person. You can find your local office here.
- Apply by Mail: You can download an application and send it by mail. The application can be downloaded here. After filling out and signing the application form, mail it to your local HHS office.
What number you can call if you did not receive your food stamps this month in Texas?
If you haven’t received your Texas food stamps this month, reach out to the Texas Lone Star Card (EBT) service phone number at 1-877-541-7905. The knowledgeable representatives can address your inquiries about benefits, EBT card usage, and other program-related questions. To contact them, dial the toll-free number, and patiently wait for assistance.
Provide your full name, address, phone number, and case number (if available) while explaining the issue. The customer service representative will investigate the matter and guide you on resolving the problem to ensure you receive your entitled food stamps. For Texas residents, the helpline operates Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Time.
Starting in September, you’ll be required to work in Texas to continue collecting SNAP benefits in Texas
Starting in early September, the SNAP program will introduce new work requirements in Texas, mandating that individuals aged 51 and under, without dependents or disabilities, must engage in at least 80 hours of work per month to maintain eligibility for food stamps. The age threshold for these requirements will gradually increase, reaching 53 in October and 55 in the year 2024.
This is not new: The SNAP program already imposes federal work requirements, typically entailing a minimum of 80 monthly working hours, on adults under the age of 49 who lack dependents or disabilities to receive full-time benefits. Although certain exceptions exist, approximately 44,000 Texans may face the risk of losing their SNAP access if they fail to meet the newly stipulated work hours, as reported by the left-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
What is the eligibility criteria to receive SNAP benefits in Texas?
You must comply to several requirements, in order to be approved to receive SNAP benefits. First, your household’s gross and net income, as well as assets, are considered during the eligibility determination process. Gross income is your total income before taxes, while net income is what remains after taxes and allowable deductions such as housing and utility costs, child support payments, childcare payments, and monthly medical expenses over $35 for disabled or elderly people over age 60. The maximum amount of income allowed each month to qualify for SNAP varies with the household size, according to foodstamps.org.
And then, there’s the consideration of the number of people you live and buy/make food with. This is considered as your household size. Children (under 22), elderly (60+), and disabled people count as household members if you buy/make food for them, or you buy and make food together.
To receive SNAP, you must be a Texas resident. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you must have a qualified alien immigration status. Non-citizens who have waited five years or have 40 work credits can also become eligible.
Employment Status: Most adults ages 18 to 49 with no children in their home can get SNAP for only three months in a three-year period. The benefit period might be longer if the person works at least 20 hours a week or is in a job or training program.
The P-EBT is no longer available – Are the regular SNAP benefits still obtainable?
Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) was a program that provided food benefits to families with students who temporarily lost access to free or reduced-price school meals due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it should be mentioned that the period to apply for P-EBT benefits is no longer open, because it closed in September 2021 as life normalized after the global health crisis.
The disappearance of this branch of food stamps does not affect the program as a whole, which continues to operate normally as it has since before the pandemic and continues to do so after. Let’s remember that this is a federal program that is supported by a law, which means that it will not disappear unless it is replaced with new legislation.