October 2026 EBT Deposit Schedule: Exact Dates for Every State (Plus the October 1st COLA Boost)

If there’s one month of the year you really want to pay attention to your EBT deposit date, it’s October.

October 1st marks the start of the federal government’s new fiscal year. That means the annual Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) officially kicks in across the country, updating maximum monthly benefits for eligible households.

Planning a grocery run when every dollar counts is stressful enough without having to guess when your card will reload. Below is the verified state-by-state schedule for October 2026, the updated payment numbers, and key dates to watch.

💰 New October 2026 Maximum Monthly Allotments (48 States + D.C.)

  • Household of 1: Up to $306
  • Household of 2: Up to $562
  • Household of 3: Up to $805
  • Household of 4: Up to $1,023

*Your exact payment depends on your household's net income and allowable deductions. You do not need to reapply to receive this adjustment.

How Your State Determines Your Deposit Day

Unlike Social Security checks that drop on set Wednesdays, SNAP is distributed by individual states on a rolling basis between the 1st and 28th of the month. Your exact day is usually based on:

  • The last digit (or last 2 digits) of your case number
  • The last digit of your Social Security Number (SSN)
  • The first letter of your last name

October 2026 State-by-State EBT Deposit Schedule

State October Dates How Your Date Is Assigned
California (CalFresh) Oct 1 – Oct 10 Last digit of Case # (1 = Oct 1, 2 = Oct 2 ... 0 = Oct 10)
Texas Oct 1 – Oct 28 Last 2 digits of EDG Number
Florida Oct 1 – Oct 28 8th & 9th digits of Case # (read backwards, dropping the 10th)
New York Oct 1 – Oct 9 (Upstate)
Oct 1 – Oct 15 (NYC)		 Upstate follows county schedule; NYC runs on a 13-day cycle (excl. Sundays)
North Carolina Oct 3 – Oct 21 Last digit of SSN (Odd digits: 3rd–11th; Even: 13th–21st)
Georgia Oct 5 – Oct 23 Last 2 digits of Client ID
Ohio Oct 2 – Oct 20 Last digit of Case Number
Pennsylvania First 10 business days Last digit of 7-digit Record Number
Illinois Oct 1 – Oct 10 (and Oct 20) Staggered by case category & head-of-household SSN
Michigan Oct 3 – Oct 21 Last digit of Case ID

⚡ Single-Day States: If you live in Alaska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Rhode Island, or Vermont, 100% of household benefits are loaded on October 1st regardless of case numbers.

What Time Does the Money Drop? (Don't Rush at Midnight)

Many shoppers head out right at 12:01 AM on their deposit date, only to find their balance reads $0.00.

Most state systems process batch updates overnight between midnight and 6:00 AM local time. If you check your balance at 7:00 AM, your funds will almost always be ready for your grocery trip.

⚠️ Watch Out for the October Federal Holiday: Monday, October 12 (Indigenous Peoples' Day / Columbus Day) is a federal bank holiday. While automated EBT deposits generally process normally, county customer service offices will be closed if you need caseworker help.

What If It's Your Day and Your Balance Is Still Empty?

Before spending hours waiting on hold with your county office, check these 3 quick fixes:

  1. Check Your Recertification Status: October is a major renewal month. If you missed a mid-year reporting letter sent in late summer, benefits may be paused pending paperwork.
  2. Check if Your Card Is Locked on Your App: If you use security apps like ebtEDGE or ConnectEBT to freeze transactions against skimming, ensure you unlock the card before swiping.
  3. Log into Your State Portal: Platforms like BenefitsCal (CA) or Your Texas Benefits (TX) will show any pending document requests directly on your dashboard.

Still unsure about your state's exact date? Drop a comment below with your state and the last digit of your case number, and I'll help you look it up!

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