Today, we delve into a question that resonates in thousands of Texas households: What happens to SNAP benefits in the first days of October 2025, and will we see an increase in amounts in Texas?
The answer lies in a delicate scrutiny between the state’s administrative calendar and federal fiscal changes, a review that is vital to understanding for managing family budgets. We’ll look at the Texas SNAP benefits calendar because it has one of the largest beneficiary populations in the country.
What’s the SNAP Benefits Program?
In case you don’t know, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federal initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. States manage the program individually and adjust it to their local needs.
States adjust payment dates and geographic distribution through an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. This card works just like a debit card to purchase food accepted at USDA-approved stores.
Texas SNAP benefits calendar: October dates confirmed
A Unlike other states that release all funds on a single date, Texas operates a tiered issuance system. Texas Health and Human Services distributes Lone Star Card deposits over a range of days, based on each case’s Eligibility Determination Group (EDG) number.
This practice, designed to manage cash flow and demand in businesses, means that your payment due date is not the first day of the month, but rather a specific day assigned within a later window.
Although payments are due from the 1st to the 28th of each month, let’s look at the closest days for now. Households in Texas who were certified before June 1st, 2020 send out benefits between the 1st and 15th, based on the last digit in your Eligibility Determination Group (EDG) number:
| If your EDG # ends in | Benefits available |
|---|---|
| 0 | 1st of the month |
| 1 | 3rd of the month |
| 2 | 5th of the month |
| 3 | 6th of the month |
| 4 | 7th of the month |
| 5 | 9th of the month |
| 6 | 11th of the month |
| 7 | 12th of the month |
| 8 | 13th of the month |
| 9 | 15th of the month |
SNAP benefits have already increased: these are the new amounts in effect
From October 2025, and through September 2026, the SNAP benefits were increased due to the cost of living adjustment, similar to the COLA from the Social Security benefits. Here are the new amounts according to the size of the household:
| Household Size | 48 States and D.C. |
|---|---|
| 1 | $298 |
| 2 | $546 |
| 3 | $785 |
| 4 | $994 |
| 5 | $1,183 |
| 6 | $1,421 |
| 7 | $1,571 |
| 8 | $1,789 |
| Each additional person | $218 |
How to apply for SNAP benefits in Texas
Your first stop should definitely be the YourTexasBenefits.com website. It’s the main hub, managed by the Health and Human Services Commission. You can fill out the entire application online there, which is the fastest way for most folks.
The form itself, they call it the Texas Application for Benefits, asks for all the details about your household’s income, any bills you have, and who actually lives with you. It’s a good idea to have your recent pay stubs, rent receipts, and utility bills handy before you start clicking through the screens. That makes the whole process a lot smoother than having to stop and go look for stuff.
Now, if you’re not too comfortable with computers or just don’t have internet at home, you absolutely have other options. You can always call the HHSC and ask them to mail a paper application to you. Lots of local community offices will also have the forms right in their lobbies.
Another solid choice is to just visit a benefits office in person and ask for help directly from a staff member; sometimes it’s easier to just talk to a real person. After you finally submit everything, just know that the state will need to interview you, usually by phone, to go over all the information you provided. The whole process from application to getting an answer on your Lone Star Card can take up to 30 days, so a little patience is needed.
