After a turbulent November marked by a federal shutdown and delayed payments, SNAP benefits for December 2025 are set to arrive on time. Households that depend on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can expect a return to the normal deposit calendar, with state agencies confirming that December will follow each state’s usual SNAP payment schedule.
The program, overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, supports more than 42 million people with monthly food benefits. Disruptions in November put extra pressure on families during the Thanksgiving period, but with the government fully reopened since November 20, processing has largely recovered.
November Delays After Shutdown
The 43 day shutdown temporarily slowed core operations at USDA and its Food and Nutrition Service, which administers SNAP benefits nationwide. Many recipients in large states such as California and New York reported late or missing deposits, and hotline traffic surged.
Officials have indicated that roughly 30 percent of households experienced some kind of delay in November. State agencies have been working through backlogs so that all November benefits are fully issued before December payments begin.
Advocacy organizations, including Feeding America, welcomed the rapid recovery but are urging Congress to better protect SNAP benefits from future budget fights that place low income families at risk.
December 2025 SNAP Benefits Are On Schedule
According to USDA officials, all systems are now operating on the regular timetable, and SNAP benefits for December 2025 will follow each state’s established December SNAP payment schedule. That means no additional two week waits, no ad hoc waves of emergency deposits and no special workarounds.
Recipients are encouraged to:
- Monitor their usual EBT deposit day
- Check state online portals, mobile apps or hotlines for case specific details
- Report any missing or incorrect deposit as soon as possible
For many families, this stabilization means that at least the food budget can be planned more confidently through the end of the year.
State by State SNAP Deposit Dates for December 2025
Here is the expected SNAP deposit schedule for December 2025 by state and territory, including Washington D C. Exact dates for each household still depend on factors such as case number, Social Security number or last name.
- 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 and 15
- U S 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
Because many states use staggered payment windows, especially larger ones like Texas and Florida, families should rely on their official case information to know the exact day their SNAP deposit will arrive.
SNAP Benefit Maximums for December 2025
The SNAP benefits maximums for December 2025 reflect the cost of living adjustment that took effect in October 2024 for fiscal year 2025. These higher amounts are meant to help households keep pace with rising grocery prices.
For the 48 contiguous states and Washington D C, the approximate maximum monthly benefits are:
- One person household up to 298 dollars
- Four person household up to 994 dollars
- Eight person household up to 1,789 dollars
Larger families can receive additional amounts per extra member. Actual benefits can be lower than the maximum, depending on income, expenses and household composition, but the ceilings above show how far SNAP benefits can go when eligibility is at its highest level.
What Recipients Should Do Now
As SNAP benefits for December 2025 return to a normal rhythm, recipients can take a few practical steps:
- Review recent EBT history to confirm that any delayed November benefits have been issued
- Mark your December deposit window on a calendar or phone reminder
- Contact your local SNAP office if your benefit does not post during the normal period for your state
With the shutdown behind them and December SNAP payment dates confirmed, families can focus less on uncertainty around deposits and more on planning meals and managing end of year expenses.
