If your family gets SNAP in Texas — the program most people still call food stamps — December comes with a timing catch worth knowing now, while you can still plan around it. Texas loads Lone Star Cards on a staggered schedule from the 1st through the 28th, based on the last two digits of your EDG number. In December 2026, that means some San Antonio households get their money early in the month, while households whose EDG ends in 86–99 do not see a deposit until Christmas Day or later. Here is your exact December date, how to check it, and what to do if your grocery money lands after the holiday. Applying for SNAP is always free.
December 2026 SNAP payment dates in Texas
Texas Health and Human Services (HHSC) issues SNAP on the schedule in its Texas Works Handbook (section B-250). Find the last two digits of your EDG number and read across:
| EDG ends in | December deposit |
|---|---|
| 00–03 | December 1 |
| 04–06 | December 2 |
| 07–10 | December 3 |
| 11–13 | December 4 |
| 14–17 | December 5 |
| 18–20 | December 6 |
| 21–24 | December 7 |
| 25–27 | December 8 |
| 28–31 | December 9 |
| 32–34 | December 10 |
| 35–38 | December 11 |
| 39–41 | December 12 |
| 42–45 | December 13 |
| 46–49 | December 14 |
| 50–53 | December 15 |
| 54–57 | December 16 |
| 58–60 | December 17 |
| 61–64 | December 18 |
| 65–67 | December 19 |
| 68–71 | December 20 |
| 72–74 | December 21 |
| 75–78 | December 22 |
| 79–81 | December 23 |
| 82–85 | December 24 |
| 86–88 | December 25 |
| 89–92 | December 26 |
| 93–95 | December 27 |
| 96–99 | December 28 |
Your EDG number is printed on your approval letter (form TF0001) — and that same letter prints your own deposit day, which is the safest source of all. Many Texans see the money show up the night before their scheduled date, so it is worth checking your balance that evening.
The Christmas catch: four groups deposit on or after December 25
Christmas Day falls on Friday, December 25, 2026. If your EDG ends in 86–99, your December deposit lands on December 25, 26, 27, or 28 — on or after the holiday, not before it. EDG 82–85 lands on Christmas Eve, December 24. That is not a delay or a cut; it is simply where the staggered schedule falls this year. A few ways to get ahead of it:
- Stretch the November deposit. If you can, set aside shelf-stable holiday staples when your November money arrives instead of waiting for December. Our November 2026 payment dates guide has that schedule.
- Use free holiday help for the gap. San Antonio’s Christmas signups — toy help, holiday food boxes, and meal programs — are already open, and several close in November. See Christmas help in San Antonio (2026): signups open now and sign up before the deadlines, not after.
- Keep your case current. A missed renewal or an unanswered HHSC letter can interrupt a deposit entirely. Our Texas SNAP renewal checklist walks through what to check before year-end.
Which schedule am I on?
- Certified on or after May 1, 2023 → the table above.
- Certified before May 1, 2023 → keep your existing day. Your schedule was set when you were first certified and does not change just because the handbook table exists. Do not switch to the table above on your own — the day printed on your TF0001 award letter is your day.
- A long break can move you. If you were certified before May 1, 2023, then had a break in benefits of at least six months and reapplied after May 1, 2023, you move onto the current table above. This is the number-one reason people think their deposit “moved.”
How much could your household get?
The current federal fiscal year amounts took effect October 1, 2026. These are the maximum monthly amounts — most households get less, because the actual benefit depends on income, household size, and deductions:
| Household size | Maximum per month |
|---|---|
| 1 | $306 |
| 2 | $562 |
| 3 | $808 |
| 4 | $1,023 |
| 5 | $1,217 |
| 6 | $1,463 |
The minimum monthly benefit for one- and two-person households is $25. One Texas rule to remember at the register: since April 1, 2026, you can no longer buy candy or sweetened drinks with your Lone Star Card. Regular groceries, milk, and plain water are unaffected.
How to check your Lone Star Card balance
- The Your Texas Benefits app (fastest)
- YourTexasBenefits.com
- The number on the back of your Lone Star Card — the Lone Star Card help line is 800-777-7328
Not on SNAP yet? Applying is free
You can apply online at YourTexasBenefits.com, call 2-1-1 and choose the SNAP option, or visit a local HHSC office in person. You will need ID, proof of income, and rent or utility bills. Most people get a decision within 30 days — faster if the situation is urgent. If the paperwork feels like a lot, that is exactly what our free Apply for Me help is for: we walk you through it and match you with every program you may qualify for.
Check What You May Qualify For — Free Apply for Me Help
We do not submit government applications or complete paperwork for you. We help you find your potential matches and walk you through the steps.
Helpful links & phone numbers
- HHSC Texas Works Handbook, B-250 EBT Benefit Issuance — the official SNAP issuance schedule this table comes from
- YourTexasBenefits.com — apply for SNAP, renew, and check your case
- Texas Health and Human Services (hhs.texas.gov) — SNAP program information
- Lone Star Card help line: 800-777-7328 — balance, lost or stolen cards, and deposit questions
- 2-1-1 Texas: dial 2-1-1 — free, confidential help finding food and local assistance
- USDA SNAP state directory — official program contacts
Frequently asked questions
What day will my December 2026 SNAP benefits arrive in Texas?
It depends on the last two digits of your EDG number. Deposits run December 1–28 on the HHSC schedule in the table above. Households certified before May 1, 2023 keep the day printed on their TF0001 award letter.
Why does my December SNAP deposit land after Christmas?
Texas staggers deposits across the whole month. EDG numbers ending in 86–99 are scheduled for December 25–28, which falls on and after Christmas Day (Friday, December 25, 2026). It is the normal schedule, not a delay — plan holiday groceries around your November deposit and the free Christmas help programs if your date falls late.
Where do I find my EDG number?
On your TF0001 approval or award letter from HHSC. The letter also prints your deposit day. If you cannot find the letter, call the Lone Star Card help line at 800-777-7328.
Did SNAP amounts change for December 2026?
No new change takes effect in December. The current maximums — $306 for a household of one up to $1,463 for six — began October 1, 2026, and stay in place. Your actual amount depends on your income, household size, and deductions.
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