by Washington, D.C. – Millions of Americans who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will see their benefits return to normal schedules in December 2025 after a 43-day government shutdown disrupted payments in November. The program, which assists roughly 42 million low- and no-income Americans each month, faced significant delays and inconsistencies as states struggled to distribute benefits amid legal challenges and conflicting court rulings.
During the shutdown, some states were able to deliver full SNAP payments, while others issued partial payments or none at all, leaving recipients uncertain about their access to essential food assistance.
Funding Bill Ends Shutdown, Restores Payments
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump signed a government funding bill, officially ending the shutdown and allowing SNAP payments to resume across the country. The House of Representatives approved the legislation earlier in the day after the Senate passed it on Monday, ensuring federal support for the program.
With funding restored, SNAP benefits for December 2025 will be distributed according to state-specific schedules, returning predictability for recipients relying on these crucial resources.
How SNAP Benefits Are Distributed
SNAP payments are delivered through Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, which function like debit cards and can be used at participating grocery stores nationwide. The exact date recipients receive their benefits varies depending on the state or territory in which they reside.
States follow different methods for issuing SNAP benefits:
- Some, such as California, base payments on case numbers.
- Others, like Connecticut and Delaware, assign payment dates based on the first letter of a recipient’s last name.
- Smaller states, including Alaska and South Dakota, typically distribute all benefits on a single day each month.
December 2025 SNAP Payment Schedule
Here is the December SNAP payment schedule for all states and territories:
- Alabama: December 4–23
- Alaska: December 1
- Arizona: December 1–13
- Arkansas: December 4–13
- California: December 1–10
- Colorado: December 1–10
- Connecticut: December 1–3
- Delaware: December 2–23
- District of Columbia: December 1–10
- Florida: December 1–28
- Georgia: December 5–23
- Guam: December 1–10
- Hawaii: December 3–5
- Idaho: December 1–10
- Illinois: December 1–20
- Indiana: December 5–23
- Iowa: December 1–10
- Kansas: December 1–10
- Kentucky: December 1–19
- Louisiana: December 1–23
- Maine: December 10–14
- Maryland: December 4–23
- Massachusetts: December 1–14
- Michigan: December 3–21
- Minnesota: December 4–13
- Mississippi: December 4–21
- Missouri: December 1–22
- Montana: December 2–6
- Nebraska: December 1–5
- Nevada: December 1–10
- New Hampshire: December 5
- New Jersey: December 1–5
- New Mexico: December 1–20
- New York: December 1–9
- North Carolina: December 3–21
- North Dakota: December 1
- Ohio: December 2–20
- Oklahoma: December 1–10
- Oregon: December 1–9
- Pennsylvania: December 3–14
- Puerto Rico: December 4–22
- Rhode Island: December 1
- South Carolina: December 1–19
- South Dakota: December 10
- Tennessee: December 1–20
- Texas: December 1–28
- Utah: December 5, 11, 15
- Virgin Islands: December 1
- Vermont: December 1
- Virginia: December 1–7
- Washington: December 1–20
- West Virginia: December 1–9
- Wisconsin: December 1–15
- Wyoming: December 1–4
Looking Ahead: Full Year Funding
The government spending deal that ended the shutdown ensures that SNAP benefits are appropriated for the full fiscal year, which runs through October 1, 2026. This provides stability for recipients and reduces the risk of future payment disruptions.
Are you a SNAP recipient or know someone affected by the recent shutdown? Share your experiences in the comments below and let us know how timely access to benefits impacts your household.
