April brings concrete changes for the more than 3 million Texans who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP benefits. There are two key issues to watch closely.
The dates when funds will be available on the Lone Star Card and an unprecedented restriction that, starting April 1st, prevents beneficiaries from purchasing certain foods with their federal food stamps.
Texas became one of the first states in the nation to receive an exemption from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) limiting which products can be purchased with SNAP benefits. What is going on? It’s happening all over America, and millions of recipients may not be aware of it.
Texas SNAP Benefits in April: New Food Restrictions
The change, which took effect the same day April payments began, directly targets candy and beverages with added sugar. The Lone Star Card can no longer be used to buy candy or chocolate bars, chocolate-covered nuts or fruit, yogurt or caramel, or soft drinks containing five grams or more of added sugar or any amount of artificial sweetener. Candy of any kind is also prohibited.
Yes, beverages containing milk or dairy substitutes—such as soy or rice milk—and juices with more than 50% real fruit or vegetable content remain eligible. The rest of the catalog of foods that can be prepared at home remains unchanged: fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy products, bread, and seeds continue to be eligible as usual.
How to Find Your April SNAP Payment Date in Texas
The Texas calendar does not operate on a fixed date for everyone. The system assigns the deposit date based on the case’s EDG (Eligibility Determination Group) number, a code that appears on official correspondence from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, in the Your Texas Benefits app, or can be obtained by calling 800-777-7328.
There are two groups of beneficiaries depending on when their case was approved:
Certificates issued before June 1, 2020(last digit of the EDG):
- Ends in 0 → April 1
- Ends in 1 → 3
- Ends in 2 → April 5
- Ends in 3 → 6th
- Ends in 4 → April 7
- Ends in 5 → April 9
- Ends in 6 → April 11
- Ends in 7 → April 12
- Ends in 8 → 13
- Ends in 9 → 15
Certificates from June 1, 2020 (last two digits of the EDG):
- Digits 00–03 → April 16
- Digits 04–06 → April 17
- Digits 07–10 → April 18
- Digits 11–13 → April 19
- Digits 14–17 → April 20
- Digits 18–20 → April 21
- Digits 21–24 → April 22
- Digits 25–27 → April 23
- Digits 28–31 → April 24
- Digits 32–34 → April 25
- Digits 35–38 → April 26
- Digits 39–41 and 46–49 → April 27
- Digits 42–45 and 50–53 → April 28
- Digits 54–57 → April 16
- Digits 58–60 → April 17
- Digits 61–64 → April 18
- Digits 65–67 → April 19
- Digits 68–71 → April 20
- Digits 72–74 → April 21
- Digits 75–78 → April 22
- Digits 79–81 → April 23
- Digits 82–85 → April 24
- Digits 86–88 → April 25
- Digits 89–92 → April 26
- Digits 93–95 → April 27
- Digits 96–99 → April 28
Funds are credited at midnight on the assigned day. If the deposit does not appear within 24 hours, it is recommended to check your balance on the YourTexasBenefits.com portal before calling the agency.
How Much Can Each Household Receive?
The maximum amounts in effect for the 2025-2026 cycle are as follows and apply to households whose net income is very low or zero:
- 1 person → $298 per month
- 2 people → $546 per month
- 3 people → $785 per month
- 4 people → $994 per month
- 5 people → $1,183 per month
- 6 people → $1,421 per month
- 7 people → $1,571 per month
- Each additional member → +$218
The minimum benefit for one- or two-person households is $24 per month. The actual amount each family receives depends on their net income after applying allowable deductions: housing, utilities, medical expenses in certain cases, and a standard 20% deduction for earned income. The basic formula is the maximum benefit amount minus 30% of the household’s net income.