Montana loads SNAP benefits onto the Montana Access Card over a five day window, the 2nd through the 6th of every month, at 12:01 a.m. on your assigned date. Your date is set by the last digit of your TEAMS case number. Case numbers ending in 0 or 1 are paid on the 2nd. Case numbers ending in 8 or 9 are paid on the 6th. That five day window is one of the shortest in the country, and it never moves: your date is the same calendar day every month for as long as your case stays open.
This guide covers the full 2026 Montana deposit schedule, what Montana does and does not publish about weekends and holidays, how to fix a missing deposit, and the current Montana SNAP income limits and application steps.
Montana EBT Deposit Schedule 2026
Find the last digit of your TEAMS case number to see your monthly deposit date. Benefits post at 12:01 a.m. on that date.
| Last Digit of TEAMS Case Number | Deposit Date | Time Available |
|---|
| 0 or 1 | 2nd of the month | 12:01 a.m. |
| 2 or 3 | 3rd of the month | 12:01 a.m. |
| 4 or 5 | 4th of the month | 12:01 a.m. |
| 6 or 7 | 5th of the month | 12:01 a.m. |
| 8 or 9 | 6th of the month | 12:01 a.m. |
This schedule comes from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service Monthly SNAP Issuance Schedule for All States and Territories, which publishes the issuance rule each state agency has established. It applies to all 12 months of 2026, January through December.
A household with case number 4419382 is paid on the 3rd. A household with case number 5507610 is paid on the 2nd. A household with case number 6612205 is paid on the 4th.
Where to Find Your TEAMS Case Number
TEAMS is Montana's eligibility system, and your case number appears on every notice DPHHS sends you. Look for it in three places:
- Approval and change notices mailed from the Office of Public Assistance, usually near the top of the first page
- Your account at apply.mt.gov, on the case summary screen after you log in
- By phone, through the Montana Public Assistance Helpline at 1-888-706-1535
Your case number is not the same as the 16 digit number printed on your Montana Access Card. The card number is issued by the EBT processor and has nothing to do with your deposit date.
Weekends and Holidays: What Montana Actually Publishes
Here is the honest answer. Montana's issuance rule, as filed with USDA, is stated purely in calendar days: benefits are made available over a five day period at 12:01 a.m. beginning with the second calendar day of every month. Neither the USDA issuance schedule nor the Montana DPHHS SNAP pages publish any exception that shifts a deposit off a weekend or a state holiday.
Some states publish an explicit rule either way. Kansas, for example, states in policy that benefits post on the scheduled day regardless of the day of the week. Montana has no equivalent published statement that we could locate on dphhs.mt.gov or in the state SNAP policy manual.
What that means practically: the schedule as published is a calendar date schedule, and EBT deposits are automated rather than processed by hand at a counter, so a Saturday or Sunday date is not expected to move. But if your date falls on a weekend or a holiday and this matters for your budget, confirm it directly with the EBT cardholder help desk at 1-866-850-1556 or the Public Assistance Helpline at 1-888-706-1535 rather than relying on a general guide.
The dates that land on a weekend in the rest of 2026:
| Month | Weekend Dates in the 2nd to 6th Window |
|---|
| August 2026 | 2nd (Sunday) |
| September 2026 | 5th (Saturday), 6th (Sunday) |
| October 2026 | 3rd (Saturday), 4th (Sunday) |
| November 2026 | none |
| December 2026 | 5th (Saturday), 6th (Sunday) |
Offices are closed on weekends and state holidays, so even when a deposit posts on time, live help is not available until the next business day.
When Deposits Come Outside the Regular Schedule
Your first deposit after approval often does not follow the 2nd through 6th window.
- Expedited service. Montana makes food benefits available within seven calendar days of the application date for households that qualify. You qualify for expedited service if your household has under $150 in monthly gross income and $100 or less in liquid resources, if you are a migrant or seasonal farm worker household with $100 or less in liquid resources, or if your combined monthly gross income and liquid resources are less than your monthly rent or mortgage plus utilities.
- New approvals. Initial benefits are issued when the case is approved, not held until your case number date rolls around.
- Supplements and corrections. If a caseworker adds benefits for a prior month after fixing an error, that issuance posts separately from your regular monthly load.
Once you are past that first issuance, deposits settle into your permanent case number date.
Cash Assistance on the Montana Access Card
TANF cash assistance in Montana is delivered on the same Montana Access Card. DPHHS does not publish a separate cash issuance calendar on its public SNAP or TANF pages, and third party guides generally report that cash follows the same 2nd through 6th window keyed to the case number. Treat that as unconfirmed. If you receive both SNAP and TANF, call 1-888-706-1535 and ask the agent to confirm both deposit dates on your case.
How to Check Your Montana Access Card Balance
| Method | Details | Cost |
|---|
| Cardholder help desk | 1-866-850-1556, automated system available 24/7 for balance, PIN selection, and last 10 transactions | Free |
| Online portal | mybnft.com to check balance and transactions or activate a card | Free |
| Store receipt | Remaining balance prints at the bottom of your grocery receipt | Free |
| ATM balance inquiry (cash benefits only) | Available at ATMs that accept the card | Some ATMs charge a fee |
The help desk is an interactive voice response system, so you can check your balance at 12:05 a.m. on your deposit date without waiting for an agent. Live support runs weekdays during business hours.
What to Do If Your Deposit Did Not Show Up
Step 1. Confirm the date is actually yours. Check the last digit of your TEAMS case number against the table above. People frequently use the wrong number, often the card number or an old case number from a closed case.
Step 2. Check after 12:01 a.m., not before. If you look at 11:00 p.m. the night before, you will see last month's balance.
Step 3. Check whether your case is still open. A missed recertification, an unreturned interview, or missing verification will stop issuance without warning. Montana mails a notice before this happens, so check your mail and your apply.mt.gov messages.
Step 4. Check whether you reported a change. A new job, a household member moving in or out, or a change in shelter costs can trigger a recalculation that delays or reduces the month's issuance.
Step 5. Call. Use 1-866-850-1556 for card and balance problems, and 1-888-706-1535 for case and eligibility questions. You can also visit your local Office of Public Assistance.
Card Replacement and Stolen Benefits
To replace a lost, stolen, or damaged Montana Access Card, call the customer service line at 1-866-850-1556. Reporting the card immediately deactivates it, so the old card stops working the moment you make the call. Under Montana's SNAP policy manual, the state makes replacement cards available for pickup or places them in the mail within two business days of your report. Montana allows one free replacement per year, with a $2.00 fee for each additional card.
Two other rules worth knowing:
- Benefits stay in the account for 274 days before being expunged. Unused benefits roll from month to month during that window, so you do not have to spend the full allotment before your next deposit.
- If you have an outstanding SNAP overpayment, any balance remaining on the account may be applied toward that claim.
On card skimming: federal reimbursement for SNAP benefits stolen through skimming devices expired December 20, 2024 and has not been renewed. States generally cannot replace skimmed benefits with federal funds. The two habits that actually protect you are changing your PIN monthly, ideally the day before your deposit date, and checking your transaction history through mybnft.com or the help desk so theft gets caught the same day.
Montana SNAP Income Limits for 2026
Montana uses Expanded Categorical Eligibility, which raises the gross income test to 200% of the federal poverty level for most households and removes the asset test entirely. That is a meaningful advantage over states that apply only the standard 130% test. The figures below are published by Montana DPHHS for October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
Households That Meet Expanded Categorical Eligibility Criteria
| People in Household | Gross Monthly Income | Net Monthly Income |
|---|
| 1 | $2,610 | $1,305 |
| 2 | $3,526 | $1,763 |
| 3 | $4,442 | $2,221 |
| 4 | $5,360 | $2,680 |
| 5 | $6,276 | $3,139 |
| 6 | $7,192 | $3,596 |
| 7 | $8,110 | $4,055 |
| 8 | $9,026 | $4,513 |
| Each additional member | +$918 | +$459 |
All Other Households
| People in Household | Gross Monthly Income | Net Monthly Income |
|---|
| 1 | $1,696 | $1,305 |
| 2 | $2,292 | $1,763 |
| 3 | $2,888 | $2,221 |
| 4 | $3,483 | $2,680 |
| 5 | $4,079 | $3,139 |
| 6 | $4,675 | $3,596 |
| 7 | $5,271 | $4,055 |
| 8 | $5,867 | $4,513 |
| Each additional member | +$596 | +$459 |
These limits hold through September 30, 2026. New federal figures take effect October 1, 2026 and are typically published by USDA in late summer.
Resource Limits
Households that meet Expanded Categorical Eligibility have all resources excluded. For households that do not:
| Household Type | Countable Resource Limit |
|---|
| Includes a member age 60 or over, or a member with a disability | $4,500 |
| All other households | $2,750 |
Your home, your vehicles, tax preferred education and retirement accounts, and combat related military pay do not count. Households where every member receives TANF, tribal TANF, or SSI have no resource limit at all.
Maximum Monthly Benefit
Maximum allotments for the 48 contiguous states, in effect through September 30, 2026:
| 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, because the benefit is reduced as net income rises. The minimum monthly benefit for eligible one and two person households is $24.
Deductions That Lower Your Countable Income
Montana applies the standard federal deductions before calculating your benefit:
- 20% of all gross earned income
- A standard deduction based on household size, approximately $209 for households of 1 to 3, $223 for 4, $261 for 5, and $299 for 6 or more
- Dependent care costs needed for work, training, or school
- Legally owed child support you actually pay
- A shelter cost deduction for rent, mortgage, and utilities above a threshold
- A medical expense deduction for out of pocket costs over $35 per month, available to household members age 60 or over or with a disability
Because of these deductions, households with gross income near the limit often still qualify.
Work Requirements in Montana
Adults age 16 through 59 who are able to work must register for work and may have to participate in the SNAP Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) program unless an exemption applies. Montana runs SNAP E&T in Flathead, Lincoln, Big Horn, Cascade, Silver Bow, Deer Lodge, Gallatin, Yellowstone, Missoula, Lewis and Clark, Fergus, Golden Valley, Judith Basin, Musselshell, Petroleum, Ravalli, and Wheatland counties.
Separately, able bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) face a time limit of three months of benefits in a 36 month period unless they meet a work or training requirement. Federal legislation signed in July 2025 widened who this applies to, raising the upper age from 54 toward 64 and extending work requirements to parents whose youngest child is 14 or older. Geographic waivers, which Montana has used in the past for high unemployment areas, have also been narrowed. If you receive a notice about work requirements, respond before the deadline on the notice rather than waiting for benefits to stop. Exemptions still exist for people who are pregnant, physically or mentally unfit for work, caring for an incapacitated household member, or already working 30 or more hours per week.
How to Apply for SNAP in Montana
Option 1: Apply online. Go to apply.mt.gov. This is the fastest route and covers SNAP, TANF, LIHEAP, and health coverage in one application.
Option 2: Apply by phone. Call the Public Assistance Helpline at 1-888-706-1535 on a weekday.
Option 3: Apply in person. Visit your local Office of Public Assistance. Locations are listed on dphhs.mt.gov.
Option 4: Request a paper application. DPHHS will email a PDF application, and a Spanish language application is available.
What to Have Ready
- Photo ID for the head of household
- Social Security numbers, or proof of application, for everyone applying
- Proof of Montana residency
- Proof of all household income for the last 30 days
- Rent or mortgage documentation and utility bills
- Child care or dependent care costs
- Medical expense records if a member is 60 or over or has a disability
Standard applications are processed within 30 days. Households that qualify for expedited service get benefits within seven calendar days of the application date. Once approved, your Montana Access Card arrives by mail, and you activate it and set a PIN by calling 1-866-850-1556 or through mybnft.com.
Montana households may also qualify for Montana Medicaid, Healthy Montana Kids, WIC, LIHEAP energy assistance, and other programs. See the Montana benefits overview for the full list, or compare payment dates across states in our national SNAP EBT deposit schedule guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What day does Montana EBT deposit in 2026?
Montana deposits SNAP benefits on the 2nd through the 6th of the month based on the last digit of your TEAMS case number: 0 or 1 on the 2nd, 2 or 3 on the 3rd, 4 or 5 on the 4th, 6 or 7 on the 5th, and 8 or 9 on the 6th.
What time do Montana EBT benefits load?
Benefits are made available at 12:01 a.m. on your scheduled date. Montana is one of the earliest posting states in the country. If your balance has not updated shortly after midnight on your date, check it again by phone at 1-866-850-1556 before assuming something is wrong.
What happens if my Montana EBT deposit date falls on a weekend or holiday?
Montana's published issuance schedule is stated in calendar days and includes no weekend or holiday exception, and DPHHS does not publish a shift rule on its SNAP pages. Deposits are automated, so a weekend date is not expected to move. Because the state does not publish this explicitly, confirm with the EBT help desk at 1-866-850-1556 if the timing matters for your budget.
Where do I find my TEAMS case number?
Your TEAMS case number is printed on notices from the Office of Public Assistance, appears in your account at apply.mt.gov, and can be read to you by an agent at 1-888-706-1535. It is not the number printed on your Montana Access Card.
Can I change my Montana EBT deposit date?
No. Your date is tied to the last digit of your case number and cannot be requested or changed. It only changes if your case is closed and reopened under a new case number.
What is the income limit for SNAP in Montana in 2026?
Most Montana households qualify under Expanded Categorical Eligibility, with a gross monthly income limit of $2,610 for one person and $5,360 for a household of four. Households that do not meet those criteria use the standard limits of $1,696 for one person and $3,483 for four. Net income limits are $1,305 and $2,680 respectively. These figures run through September 30, 2026.
How much SNAP can a family of four get in Montana?
The maximum monthly allotment for a four person household is $994 through September 30, 2026. Most households receive less, since the benefit is reduced as net income after deductions rises. The minimum benefit for eligible one and two person households is $24.
Do unused Montana SNAP benefits expire?
Benefits remain in your account for 274 days before being expunged. Unused benefits roll over month to month during that window, so there is no need to spend everything before your next deposit.
How long does it take to get a replacement Montana Access Card?
Call 1-866-850-1556 to report the card. Montana makes replacement cards available for pickup or places them in the mail within two business days of your report. One replacement per year is free, and additional cards cost $2.00 each.
Does Montana have an asset limit for SNAP?
Not for most households. Households that meet Expanded Categorical Eligibility criteria have all resources excluded. Households that do not are limited to $2,750, or $4,500 if a member is age 60 or over or has a disability. Your home, vehicles, and retirement accounts are excluded either way.
