Alabama loads SNAP benefits onto your EBT card once a month, on a date set by the last two digits of your DHR case number. Deposits are spread across 20 days, from the 4th through the 23rd of each month. There is no single statewide payday. If your case number ends in 00 to 04 you are paid on the 4th; if it ends in 95 to 99 you are paid on the 23rd. Your date does not move for weekends or holidays, and it stays the same every month for as long as your case is open.
This guide gives the full Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR) issuance schedule for 2026, how to find your case number, what changed with the new chip-enabled EBT cards this year, and what to do when a deposit does not show up.
2026 Alabama EBT Deposit Schedule by Case Number
Find the last two digits of your case number in the left column. That row is your deposit date, every month.
| Last Two Digits of Case Number | Deposit Date |
|---|
| 00 to 04 | 4th |
| 05 to 09 | 5th |
| 10 to 14 | 6th |
| 15 to 19 | 7th |
| 20 to 24 | 8th |
| 25 to 29 | 9th |
| 30 to 34 | 10th |
| 35 to 39 | 11th |
| 40 to 44 | 12th |
| 45 to 49 | 13th |
| 50 to 54 | 14th |
| 55 to 59 | 15th |
| 60 to 64 | 16th |
| 65 to 69 | 17th |
| 70 to 74 | 18th |
| 75 to 79 | 19th |
| 80 to 84 | 20th |
| 85 to 89 | 21st |
| 90 to 94 | 22nd |
| 95 to 99 | 23rd |
This is the schedule published by Alabama DHR in its EBT Issuance Schedule, in effect since September 2013 and unchanged for 2026. Each date covers five possible endings, which is why Alabama has 20 payment days instead of 10 like some neighboring states.
Two examples. A case number ending in 37 pays on the 11th. A case number ending in 08 pays on the 5th.
2026 Month by Month
Because Alabama uses fixed calendar dates rather than business days, your date is identical in every month of the year. There is no holiday shifting to track.
| Month | Deposit Window |
|---|
| August 2026 | August 4 to August 23 |
| September 2026 | September 4 to September 23 |
| October 2026 | October 4 to October 23 |
| November 2026 | November 4 to November 23 |
| December 2026 | December 4 to December 23 |
The window is the same in January through July. Your position inside the window is fixed by your case number.
How to Find Your Alabama Case Number
Your case number is the number DHR assigned to your food assistance case. It is not your EBT card number and not your Social Security number.
- Approval or notice letter. Any official letter from your county DHR office about your food assistance case lists the case number near the top.
- MyDHR account. Log in at mydhr.alabama.gov and open your case details.
- County office. Call your county DHR office and ask. Have your name, date of birth, and address ready.
- EBT customer service. Call 1-800-997-8888 for card and benefit account information.
If you have more than one case number from past applications, use the one on your current approval notice. An old closed case number will give you the wrong date.
What Time Do Alabama EBT Deposits Load?
Benefits are typically available at midnight at the start of your scheduled date, so most recipients can shop first thing that morning. Card processing occasionally runs a few hours behind, so a zero balance at 12:30 a.m. does not mean something is wrong. Check again later in the morning before calling anyone.
Weekends and Holidays
Alabama does not adjust for weekends or federal holidays. DHR states that SNAP benefits are available on the same calendar date each month. If your date is the 13th and the 13th falls on a Sunday, your benefits still load on Sunday the 13th. EBT processing is automated and does not depend on county offices being open.
Your First Deposit After Approval
New approvals do not wait for the monthly cycle. Under Alabama's daily issuance rule, benefits for the past month or the current month are available the next day after they are entered in the system. So if your case is approved and keyed on the 8th, your initial benefits, including any amount owed back to your application date, generally post on the 9th.
After that first issuance, you move onto the regular monthly schedule tied to your case number. That means your second deposit can arrive sooner or later than 30 days after your first, depending on where your case number falls in the table.
Special Schedule for Treatment Center Residents
Alabama uses a separate issuance rule for residents of drug and alcohol treatment centers. One half of the monthly allotment is available on the 4th of the month, and the remaining half is available on the 16th. This split issuance applies regardless of case number.
Chip-Enabled EBT Cards: What Changed in 2026
Alabama DHR mailed new chip-enabled EBT cards to all SNAP and Family Assistance cardholders statewide starting in February 2026, following a pilot that finished in December 2025. The chip is a fraud protection measure against card skimming, which drains benefits from magnetic stripe cards.
Three things about the new cards matter for your monthly deposit:
- Activate within 180 days of issuance. Call EBT customer service at 1-800-997-8888 with your card number, date of birth, ZIP code, three-digit security code, and expiration date. Destroy the old card once the new one is active.
- Out-of-state and online purchases are blocked by default. This is the single most common surprise. Your benefits are on the card, but the transaction is refused. Unlock those options through the ConnectEBT mobile app, the ConnectEBT website, or by phone before you travel or order groceries online.
- Insert the chip instead of swiping. Swiping is what makes skimming possible. Insert or tap where the terminal allows it.
One more thing worth knowing: federal authorization to replace stolen SNAP benefits expired on December 20, 2024. DHR cannot replace benefits stolen on or after December 21, 2024, which is exactly why the chip rollout matters.
How to Check Your Alabama EBT Balance
- Phone: 1-800-997-8888, available 24 hours a day. TTY users call 1-800-548-2546. Choose benefit account information, then enter your 16-digit card number and PIN.
- Online: Log in to the ConnectEBT recipient portal at connectebt.com.
- Mobile app: The ConnectEBT app shows your balance, transaction history, and card lock settings.
- Store receipt: Most SNAP retailers print your remaining balance on the receipt.
- Merchant helpdesk (retailers only): 1-800-477-8604.
Check your balance before you shop rather than at the register. It saves the awkward split-payment moment.
What to Do If Your Benefits Are Late
Work through these steps in order before assuming there is a problem.
- Confirm your actual date. Re-check the last two digits of your case number against the table above. Most reported late deposits turn out to be a misread date.
- Wait until mid-morning. Midnight loads sometimes post a few hours behind.
- Check your balance by phone. Call 1-800-997-8888. The automated line reflects the current balance even if an app has not refreshed.
- Check MyDHR for alerts. A pending redetermination, a missing verification document, or an unreturned interview request will hold your benefits. If DHR asked for something and did not get it, the deposit stops until you respond.
- Confirm your certification period has not ended. SNAP is approved for a set period. When it ends without a completed recertification, benefits stop with no separate warning at deposit time.
- Call your county DHR office. If the balance is still zero after noon on your date and there are no case alerts, contact your county office. You can also email the Food Assistance Division at fs@dhr.alabama.gov for non-urgent questions, or dial 2-1-1 for help finding a food pantry to bridge the gap.
Do Unused Alabama SNAP Benefits Expire?
Unused benefits roll over to the next month and add to your new deposit. There is no month-end deadline to spend your allotment.
The exception is inactivity. Under federal rules, if an EBT account has no transactions for 274 days, about nine months, the remaining balance can be removed. Use the card at least once inside that window to keep the balance intact.
2026 Alabama SNAP Income Limits and Benefit Amounts
The figures below are the federal fiscal year 2026 standards, effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. A new cost-of-living adjustment takes effect October 1, 2026. Deposit dates do not change with the COLA, only amounts.
Gross Monthly Income Limits (130% of the Federal Poverty Level)
| Household Size | Maximum Gross Monthly Income |
|---|
| 1 | $1,696 |
| 2 | $2,292 |
| 3 | $2,888 |
| 4 | $3,483 |
| 5 | $4,079 |
| 6 | $4,675 |
| 7 | $5,271 |
| 8 | $5,867 |
| Each additional person | +$596 |
Households with a member age 60 or older, or a member with a qualifying disability, are exempt from the gross income test and only need to meet the net income limit at 100% of the Federal Poverty Level. For a fuller breakdown of deductions and the net income test, see our guide to Alabama SNAP income limits and Alabama SNAP eligibility.
Maximum Monthly SNAP Allotments
| Household Size | Maximum Monthly Benefit |
|---|
| 1 | $298 |
| 2 | $546 |
| 3 | $785 |
| 4 | $994 |
| 5 | $1,183 |
| 6 | $1,421 |
| 7 | $1,571 |
| 8 | $1,789 |
| Each additional person | +$218 |
Most households receive less than the maximum. The benefit formula is the maximum allotment minus 30% of your net monthly income. The minimum benefit for eligible one and two person households is $24 per month. The standard deduction for fiscal year 2026 is $209 for households of one to three people, $223 for four, $261 for five, and $299 for six or more.
Alabama SNAP in 2026: Rule Changes Worth Knowing
Federal changes under the 2025 budget law are reshaping who keeps benefits in Alabama. Work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents now extend to age 64, and exemptions that previously covered veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and young adults aging out of foster care were narrowed. Adults subject to the rule are limited to three months of benefits in a 36-month period unless they work, volunteer, or attend approved training for at least 80 hours a month.
Alabama enrollment has fallen sharply as those rules phase in. If your case closes for a work requirement reason, your deposit stops on your normal date with no partial payment. Reporting hours on time to your county office is what keeps the schedule intact.
Cash Assistance Deposits
Family Assistance (Alabama's TANF cash program) loads to the same EBT card, and cash benefits can be withdrawn at ATMs or spent where debit cards are accepted. DHR does not publish a separate public issuance calendar for cash benefits the way it does for SNAP, and many recipients see cash and food benefits post on the same day. Confirm your cash date with your county office or by calling 1-800-997-8888 rather than assuming it matches your SNAP date.
Comparing Alabama to Other States
Alabama's 4th-to-23rd window based on case number is on the longer side. Some states pay everyone on a single day, while others stagger by last name or Social Security number.
| State | Deposit Window | Determined By |
|---|
| Alabama | 4th to 23rd | Case number |
| Georgia | 5th to 23rd | Client ID |
| Florida | 1st to 28th | Case number |
| Mississippi | 4th to 21st | Social Security number |
| Tennessee | 1st to 20th | Social Security number |
If you move to another state, your date changes with your new case. For the full 50-state list, see our SNAP EBT deposit schedule by state roundup, or browse everything available in Alabama on the Alabama benefits page.
How to Apply for SNAP in Alabama
If you are not receiving benefits yet, here is the process.
- Apply online. Submit a food assistance application at mydhr.alabama.gov. You can also apply in person at your county DHR office or by mailing a paper application.
- Gather documents. Proof of identity, Alabama residency, income for everyone in the household, and shelter and utility costs. Bring medical expense records if a household member is age 60 or older or has a disability.
- Complete the interview. Most applicants have a phone interview after filing. Missing it is the most common cause of delay.
- Wait for the decision. DHR has 30 days to process a standard application. Households with very low income or almost no resources can qualify for expedited benefits within 7 days.
- Activate your card and set your PIN. Do this as soon as the chip card arrives so your first deposit is usable the day it lands.
Alabama has no asset limit for SNAP, so savings and vehicles do not disqualify an otherwise eligible household.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Alabama EBT deposit schedule for 2026?
Alabama issues SNAP benefits from the 4th through the 23rd of each month based on the last two digits of your DHR case number. Numbers ending 00 to 04 pay on the 4th, and each subsequent group of five endings moves the date forward one day, up to endings 95 to 99 on the 23rd.
How do I know my exact Alabama EBT deposit date?
Take the last two digits of your case number and match them to the schedule table above. Your case number appears on DHR notice letters and in your MyDHR account. That date repeats every month.
What time does Alabama EBT deposit?
Benefits usually load at midnight on your scheduled date, so funds are typically available first thing that morning. Occasional processing delays of a few hours happen. Check again by mid-morning before contacting DHR.
Does Alabama EBT deposit on weekends and holidays?
Yes. Alabama pays on the same calendar date every month regardless of weekends or federal holidays. Your date does not shift to a business day.
When do I get my first SNAP deposit after being approved in Alabama?
Initial benefits, including any amount owed back to your application date, are generally available the day after DHR enters them in the system. You move to the regular case-number schedule for the following month.
Why is my Alabama EBT card being declined even though I have a balance?
The chip-enabled cards issued in 2026 block out-of-state and online purchases by default. Unlock those transaction types through the ConnectEBT app, the ConnectEBT website, or by calling 1-800-997-8888. Also confirm the card was activated and that you are entering the correct PIN.
How do I check my Alabama EBT balance?
Call 1-800-997-8888 anytime, log in to the ConnectEBT portal, use the ConnectEBT mobile app, or read the balance printed on your grocery receipt.
Do unused Alabama SNAP benefits roll over?
Yes. Unspent benefits carry into the next month and add to your new deposit. If the account goes 274 days with no transactions, the remaining balance can be removed, so use the card at least once every nine months.
What is the maximum SNAP benefit in Alabama in 2026?
For fiscal year 2026, the maximum is $298 per month for one person and $994 for a household of four. Most households receive less, because the benefit equals the maximum allotment minus 30% of net income.
When does Family Assistance cash load on an Alabama EBT card?
Cash benefits go onto the same card, but DHR does not publish a separate public cash issuance calendar. Many recipients see cash post alongside their SNAP deposit. Confirm your date with your county DHR office or EBT customer service.
Who do I call about a lost or stolen Alabama EBT card?
Call EBT customer service at 1-800-997-8888 immediately to freeze the card and request a replacement. Federal authorization to replace benefits stolen through skimming expired in December 2024, so acting fast is the only real protection.
