Louisiana loads SNAP benefits onto the Louisiana Purchase Card between the 1st and the 23rd of each month, and your date is set by the last digit of the head of household's Social Security number. If your SSN ends in 0 you get benefits on the 5th, ending in 5 you get them on the 15th, and ending in 9 you get them on the 23rd. Households classified as elderly or disabled receive benefits between the 1st and the 4th. Your date does not move for weekends or holidays, and funds are accessible by 5:00 a.m. the morning after they post.
One thing changed in the background that trips people up: SNAP in Louisiana is no longer run by the Department of Children and Family Services. As of October 1, 2025, the program moved to the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) under the state's "one door" reform. Your case, your card, and your deposit date did not change. The agency name on your letters did.
Louisiana EBT Deposit Schedule by SSN Last Digit
This is the standing schedule that has been in effect since February 2021 and is still current for 2026.
| Last Digit of Social Security Number | Deposit Date Each Month |
|---|
| Elderly or disabled household | 1st through 4th |
| 0 | 5th |
| 1 | 7th |
| 2 | 9th |
| 3 | 11th |
| 4 | 13th |
| 5 | 15th |
| 6 | 17th |
| 7 | 19th |
| 8 | 21st |
| 9 | 23rd |
Use the Social Security number of the head of household, not a spouse or a child in the case. "Elderly" here means a head of household age 60 or older. If your household qualifies as elderly or disabled, your issuance falls in the 1st to 4th window rather than on the digit-based date.
Your date is fixed. It is the same calendar day every single month for as long as your case stays open, which makes budgeting more predictable than in states that shift dates around.
What Time Do Louisiana SNAP Benefits Post?
LDH posts benefits on your scheduled date, and the state's guidance is that funds are accessible by 5:00 a.m. the morning after they are posted. In practice most recipients see the balance available on their deposit date. If your date is the 15th and you check at 6:00 a.m. on the 15th and see nothing, check again later that day before assuming there is a problem.
Weekends and holidays do not change anything. If your deposit date is the 23rd and the 23rd is a Sunday, your benefits still post on the 23rd. Louisiana does not advance or delay for closures.
2026 Deposit Dates and Days of the Week
Because dates are fixed, the only thing that changes month to month is the day of the week. Here is what the rest of 2026 and the start of 2027 look like.
| SSN Last Digit | Sept 2026 | Oct 2026 | Nov 2026 | Dec 2026 | Jan 2027 |
|---|
| 0 (5th) | Sat | Mon | Thu | Sat | Tue |
| 1 (7th) | Mon | Wed | Sat | Mon | Thu |
| 2 (9th) | Wed | Fri | Mon | Wed | Sat |
| 3 (11th) | Fri | Sun | Wed | Fri | Mon |
| 4 (13th) | Sun | Tue | Fri | Sun | Wed |
| 5 (15th) | Tue | Thu | Sun | Tue | Fri |
| 6 (17th) | Thu | Sat | Tue | Thu | Sun |
| 7 (19th) | Sat | Mon | Thu | Sat | Tue |
| 8 (21st) | Mon | Wed | Sat | Mon | Thu |
| 9 (23rd) | Wed | Fri | Mon | Wed | Sat |
Supplemental issuances, replacement benefits, and Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP) run on their own schedules and do not follow this table. LDH announces those separately.
Three EBT Rule Changes Louisiana Made in 2026
These are the changes most likely to affect how and where you can spend your benefits this year.
Out-of-state purchase blocking, effective May 26, 2026. Louisiana EBT cardholders are limited to in-state purchases. The state added this to reduce card skimming and benefit theft. Retailers in certain border ZIP codes in Texas, Mississippi, and Arkansas still count as in-state, so if you shop just across the line, check the LDH list of approved border ZIP codes. Online purchases from approved retailers are not affected.
Benefit expungement rules tightened, effective June 14, 2026. Under the old rule, using your card reset the nine-month clock and kept older benefits on the card. Beginning June 14, 2026, unused SNAP, FITAP, and KCSP benefits are removed 274 days (about nine months) after they were issued, even if you have used the card since then. Once benefits are removed they cannot be restored. If you carry a large balance, spend the oldest benefits down rather than letting them sit.
LifeInCheck is the only LDH-approved balance app. Inmar Intelligence handles EBT processing for Louisiana, and its LifeInCheck app shows your SNAP and cash balances, your next available benefit date, and recent transactions. Other third-party balance apps are not reviewed or supported by LDH.
How to Check Your Louisiana Purchase Card Balance
- LifeInCheck app for iPhone or Android, or the web version at LifeInCheckEBT.com. Your next benefit date is under "My Account," then "Benefits Schedule."
- EBT customer service: 1-888-997-1117, available 24 hours a day, for balance, PIN, and lost or stolen cards.
- Store receipt: most grocery receipts print your remaining balance after a purchase.
- CAFÉ self-service portal: log in to check case status, print your budget sheet, and report changes.
- LDH customer service: 888-LAHELP-U (888-524-3578), Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Louisiana SNAP Income Limits for 2026
Louisiana uses Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility, which raises the gross income test to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level for most households instead of the standard 130%. The figures below are the standards published by the Louisiana Department of Health for the current federal fiscal year, which began October 1, 2025.
| Household Size | Gross Monthly Income (130% FPL) | Gross Monthly Income (200% FPL, BBCE) | Maximum Monthly SNAP Allotment |
|---|
| 1 | $1,696 | $2,609 | $298 |
| 2 | $2,292 | $3,525 | $546 |
| 3 | $2,888 | $4,442 | $785 |
| 4 | $3,483 | $5,359 | $994 |
| 5 | $4,079 | $6,275 | $1,183 |
| 6 | $4,675 | $7,192 | $1,421 |
| 7 | $5,271 | $8,109 | $1,571 |
| 8 | $5,867 | $9,025 | $1,789 |
| Each additional person | +$596 | +$917 | +$218 |
Most households receive less than the maximum. Your benefit is the maximum allotment for your household size minus 30% of your net monthly income.
Deductions That Lower Your Countable Income
| Deduction | Amount |
|---|
| Earned income | 20% of gross earnings |
| Standard deduction, household of 1 to 3 | $209 |
| Standard deduction, household of 4 | $223 |
| Standard deduction, household of 5 | $261 |
| Standard deduction, household of 6 or more | $299 |
| Standard medical deduction (elderly or disabled, expenses over $35.01) | $161 |
| Excess shelter cap (households without an elderly or disabled member) | $744 |
Households with verified medical expenses above $196 can claim the actual verified amount instead of the $161 standard. Households that include an elderly or disabled member have no cap on the shelter deduction.
Resource Limits
Households receiving SSI, FITAP, KCSP, or STEP benefits are exempt from the resource test. Other non-exempt households may have up to $3,000 in countable resources, or up to $4,500 if the household includes someone age 60 or older or a member with a disability. Countable resources include bank accounts, cash, CDs, stocks, and bonds.
What to Do If Your Benefits Are Late
- Confirm your date using the table above and the head of household's SSN. A surprising number of "missing" deposits are just the wrong date in someone's head.
- Wait past 5:00 a.m. the morning after your scheduled posting date before treating it as late.
- Check your balance in LifeInCheck or by calling 1-888-997-1117.
- Log in to CAFÉ and confirm your case is still active and that your certification period has not ended.
- If your case is active and funds still have not arrived, call LDH at 888-524-3578.
The most common cause of a missed deposit is a lapsed recertification rather than a technical failure. LDH sends a notice before your certification period ends, and missing that deadline stops benefits until you reapply or complete the renewal.
How to Apply for SNAP in Louisiana
- Check whether you likely qualify against the 200% FPL gross income column above and your household size.
- Gather your documents. Proof of identity, immigration status if applicable, wages or a termination notice, self-employment income, other income such as Social Security or unemployment, medical expenses, and child support you pay out.
- Apply through the CAFÉ self-service portal. Uploading documents at the time you apply is the single fastest way to shorten processing. You can also apply at a local LDH office or by mail.
- Complete your interview. Most applicants are interviewed by phone after submitting.
- Wait for the decision. LDH has 30 days to process an application. If you have little or no income or resources, you have a right to expedited benefits within 7 days.
- Activate your Louisiana Purchase Card and set a PIN when it arrives so it is ready before your first deposit date.
If you are approved, your benefits are effective back to your application date, and your recurring deposit date is assigned based on your SSN using the table above.
For more Louisiana programs, see the Louisiana state benefits page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Louisiana EBT deposit schedule for 2026?
Louisiana posts SNAP benefits between the 1st and 23rd of each month based on the last digit of the head of household's Social Security number: 0 on the 5th, 1 on the 7th, 2 on the 9th, 3 on the 11th, 4 on the 13th, 5 on the 15th, 6 on the 17th, 7 on the 19th, 8 on the 21st, and 9 on the 23rd. Elderly or disabled households receive benefits between the 1st and the 4th.
What time do Louisiana SNAP benefits hit the card?
Benefits are accessible by 5:00 a.m. the morning after they are posted on your scheduled date. Most recipients can use the card on their deposit date itself.
Do Louisiana EBT deposits change for weekends or holidays?
No. Louisiana posts benefits on the same calendar date every month regardless of the day of the week. Holidays and weekends do not shift your date.
Which Social Security number determines my deposit date?
The head of household's. Not a spouse's, not a child's. If you are unsure who is listed as head of household, check your CAFÉ account or call 888-524-3578.
Can I use my Louisiana Purchase Card in another state?
Not in most cases as of May 26, 2026. Louisiana limits EBT purchases to in-state retailers to combat card skimming. Some retailers in listed border ZIP codes in Texas, Mississippi, and Arkansas are treated as in-state, and approved online purchases are unaffected.
When do unused Louisiana SNAP benefits expire?
Beginning June 14, 2026, unused SNAP, FITAP, and KCSP benefits are removed 274 days (about nine months) after issuance, even if you have used the card since then. Removed benefits cannot be restored.
What is the maximum SNAP benefit in Louisiana?
For the current federal fiscal year, the maximum monthly allotment is $298 for a household of one, $546 for two, $785 for three, and $994 for four. Each additional person adds $218. Most households receive less based on net income.
Who runs SNAP in Louisiana now?
The Louisiana Department of Health. SNAP moved from the Department of Children and Family Services to LDH on October 1, 2025 as part of the state's "one door" restructuring. Eligibility rules and deposit dates did not change with the move.
How do I find my next deposit date in the app?
Open the LifeInCheck app, tap "My Account," then "Benefits Schedule." That schedule reflects regular SNAP only. Supplemental issuances and D-SNAP follow separate timing.
What if my benefits never arrive on my scheduled date?
Confirm your date, wait until after 5:00 a.m. the following morning, check your balance at 1-888-997-1117, then verify in CAFÉ that your case is active and your certification period has not lapsed. If everything looks current, call LDH at 888-524-3578.
