Texas SNAP Payment Schedule 2026: Complete EDG-Based Deposit Calendar, Amounts and New Rules

The Texas SNAP Payment Schedule 2026 determines exactly when more than 3 million Texans see their Lone Star Card loaded each month, and understanding it starts with one number: your Eligibility Determination Group (EDG) number. Unlike states that use a Social Security number or last name to assign deposit dates, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) spreads benefits across nearly the entire month — from the 1st through the 28th — using the last one or two digits of each household’s EDG number, split further by whether the case was certified before or after June 1, 2020. For July 2026 specifically, Texas recipients also need to know that, unlike many other states, holidays and weekends do not shift Texas deposit dates — benefits load at midnight on your scheduled date regardless of the July 4th observed holiday.

This guide brings together everything Texas SNAP recipients need for July 2026 in one place — the full EDG-based deposit calendar for both certification cohorts, the current maximum benefit amounts for fiscal year 2026, the state’s new candy and sweetened-beverage restrictions that took effect this year, income eligibility limits, and exactly how to find your EDG number and check your balance. All figures below reflect confirmed Texas HHSC guidelines current through July 2026.

Texas SNAP Payment Schedule 2026 Highlights

How the Texas EDG Number Controls Your Deposit Date

Every Texas SNAP case is assigned an Eligibility Determination Group (EDG) number when HHSC approves the application. This number stays fixed for the life of the case and appears on every official approval or renewal notice, in the “Case Details” section of the Your Texas Benefits online portal, and can be requested by phone. Once you know the relevant digit or digits of your EDG number, your monthly deposit date becomes fully predictable — it does not change from month to month unless your case is recertified under a different cohort or your EDG number itself changes.

Texas SNAP July 2026 Deposit Calendar by Certification Date

Texas splits its caseload into two broad certification cohorts, each following its own digit-based schedule:

Within Cohort 2, the mapping is more granular — for example, a household whose EDG number ends in a specific two-digit range is consistently assigned to the same date each month. A household whose EDG number ends in 72, for instance, would see benefits load on the 21st every month, including July 2026. Because the identifier is tied to the case rather than the calendar, this same mapping carries forward from June into July without any adjustment.

Why July’s Independence Day Holiday Does Not Shift Texas Deposits

One detail that distinguishes Texas from many other SNAP-administering states is how it handles federal holidays. While several states shift benefit deposits to the preceding business day when a scheduled date falls on a weekend or federal holiday, Texas does not follow this practice. Lone Star Card deposits load at midnight on the scheduled date regardless of whether HHSC offices are open that day. This means Texas recipients with a July 4th-adjacent deposit date do not need to anticipate an early or delayed payment purely because of the observed Friday, July 3 holiday — the only exception being a genuine system-wide processing delay, which is rare and typically resolved within a few hours.

Texas SNAP Maximum Benefit Amounts for Fiscal Year 2026

These maximums apply for the full federal fiscal year running from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026, and remain fixed through July’s deposit cycle. Actual household benefits are calculated by subtracting 30% of net monthly income from the maximum allotment for the household’s size, which is why most Texas households receive less than the published ceiling. Households with little or no net income receive the full maximum, while the minimum monthly benefit for a one- or two-person household is set at $24.

Texas SNAP Income Eligibility Limits (Fiscal Year 2026)

Most Texas households must meet a gross monthly income test at or below 165% of the Federal Poverty Level. Households with a member who is elderly (age 60+) or disabled are only required to meet the net income test rather than the gross income test. Texas applies Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility, which means many households may still qualify for SNAP even if their countable assets exceed the standard resource limits.

Texas’s New SNAP Purchase Restrictions (Effective April 1, 2026)

Beginning April 1, 2026, Texas enforces new restrictions under Senate Bill 379, passed during the 89th Texas Legislature in 2025 and approved through a federal healthy-foods waiver. Under this rule, SNAP benefits can no longer be used to purchase:

• Candy bars, gum, and standard candy
• Sweetened fruit, nuts, or snacks coated in chocolate, yogurt, or caramel
• Sweetened beverages containing 5 grams or more of added sugar or any artificial sweetener per serving

Items that remain eligible for SNAP purchase include milk and milk alternatives, beverages containing more than 50% real fruit or vegetable juice, medical electrolyte drinks, and snacks such as granola bars and popcorn. This restriction remains in effect through July 2026 and applies statewide at all SNAP-authorized retailers.

Vehicle and Asset Rules for Texas SNAP Households

Texas counts the value of household vehicles when determining SNAP eligibility, though generous exemptions apply. The first vehicle in a household is exempt up to $22,500 of its fair market value, and additional vehicles carry a separate exemption of up to $8,700. Liquid assets such as cash and savings are generally limited to $5,000 for most households, though the state’s Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility policy often allows households exceeding this limit to still qualify.

How to Find Your Texas EDG Number

1. Check any SNAP approval or recertification notice mailed by HHSC — your EDG number is printed on these documents.
2. Log in to your account at YourTexasBenefits.com and look under the “Case Details” section.
3. Call the Lone Star Card Help Desk at 800-777-7328 and request your EDG number by phone.
4. Contact your local HHSC benefits office directly for in-person assistance.

How to Check Your Texas Lone Star Card Balance

If your card shows no deposit by mid-morning on your scheduled date, HHSC recommends waiting until later in the day before contacting the agency, since deposits are typically processed by 12:01 a.m. but can occasionally take a few additional hours to reflect on the card.

People Also Ask

When do I get my Texas SNAP benefits in July 2026?

Your deposit date depends on your EDG number and certification cohort — cases certified before June 1, 2020 are paid between the 1st and 15th, while cases certified after that date are paid between the 16th and 28th, based on the last digit or two digits of the EDG number.

Does the July 4th holiday delay Texas SNAP payments?

No. Texas loads Lone Star Card deposits on the scheduled date regardless of weekends or federal holidays, unlike some other states that shift deposits around the observed July 3 holiday.

What can’t I buy with SNAP in Texas anymore?

Since April 1, 2026, Texas restricts SNAP purchases of candy, gum, and sweetened beverages containing 5 grams or more of added sugar, under Senate Bill 379.

How do I find my Texas EDG number?

Check your SNAP approval or recertification notice, log in to YourTexasBenefits.com, or call the Lone Star Card Help Desk at 800-777-7328.

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