Tennessee SNAP benefits load onto your EBT card between the 1st and the 20th of every month. Your exact date is set by the last two digits of the head of household's Social Security number, and it stays the same month after month. If the last two digits of your SSN are 00 to 04, your benefits post on the 1st. If they are 95 to 99, they post on the 20th. Everything in between is spread across the 20 days in groups of five.
This guide gives you the full Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) deposit chart for 2026, what happens when your date lands on a weekend or holiday, how to check your balance, what to do if your deposit does not show up, and the current income limits and benefit amounts for the program year.
Tennessee EBT Deposit Schedule 2026
TDHS staggers SNAP issuance across the first 20 days of each month so the system is not processing every household at once. Find the last two digits of the head of household's Social Security number in the left column. That row is your deposit date, every month, all year.
| Last Two Digits of SSN | Deposit Date |
|---|
| 00 to 04 | 1st of the month |
| 05 to 09 | 2nd of the month |
| 10 to 14 | 3rd of the month |
| 15 to 19 | 4th of the month |
| 20 to 24 | 5th of the month |
| 25 to 29 | 6th of the month |
| 30 to 34 | 7th of the month |
| 35 to 39 | 8th of the month |
| 40 to 44 | 9th of the month |
| 45 to 49 | 10th of the month |
| 50 to 54 | 11th of the month |
| 55 to 59 | 12th of the month |
| 60 to 64 | 13th of the month |
| 65 to 69 | 14th of the month |
| 70 to 74 | 15th of the month |
| 75 to 79 | 16th of the month |
| 80 to 84 | 17th of the month |
| 85 to 89 | 18th of the month |
| 90 to 94 | 19th of the month |
| 95 to 99 | 20th of the month |
The number that matters is the SSN of the head of household on the case, not the SSN of every person in the home. If your spouse or another adult is listed as the head of household, the schedule follows their number, not yours.
Your deposit date does not change when your benefit amount changes. A recertification, a new household member, or a change in income can adjust how much you get, but the day it arrives stays tied to the same two digits.
What Happens on Weekends and Holidays
Tennessee issues SNAP benefits on the scheduled calendar date whether or not it is a business day. Unlike some states that pull deposits forward to the prior Friday, TDHS generally posts on the same numbered day of the month regardless of weekends and federal holidays.
If your date is the 5th and the 5th is a Sunday, your benefits should still be available that Sunday. Retail transactions run every day of the year, so an EBT purchase on a weekend works the same as any weekday.
That said, funds sometimes appear in the early morning hours rather than at midnight. If you check at 12:15 a.m. on your date and see nothing, check again a few hours later before assuming something is wrong.
Your First Deposit After Approval
New approvals do not follow the regular staggered chart. When TDHS approves your application, your first month of benefits is typically issued within a few days of the approval decision, not on your permanent schedule date. That first amount is often prorated back to the date you filed your application, which means it can be larger or smaller than your ongoing monthly allotment.
Starting the following month, you shift onto the SSN-based date above and stay there.
If your household qualifies for expedited SNAP, which is available to households with very low income and very limited resources, TDHS is required to issue benefits within 7 calendar days of your application date. Expedited cases still move onto the standard schedule the next month.
Families First (TANF) Cash Deposits
Tennessee's cash assistance program, Families First, uses the same card but a different schedule. Ongoing Families First cash benefits are deposited on the 1st of the month for all recipients, with no SSN-based staggering.
If you receive both SNAP and Families First, you will see two separate deposits at two different times. One does not affect the other. Cash benefits can be withdrawn at ATMs and used anywhere debit cards are accepted, while SNAP food benefits can only be used for eligible food purchases.
How to Check Your Tennessee EBT Balance
You have four ways to see your balance and confirm a deposit posted.
By phone. Call the Tennessee EBT customer service line at 1-866-311-4287. The automated system runs 24 hours a day and reads back your current balance and recent transactions. Have your 16-digit card number ready. This is also the number printed on the back of the card.
Online. Log in at faonlineapp.dhs.tn.gov to view your balance, your deposit date, and transaction history, and to report a lost or stolen card.
Mobile app. Search for "Tennessee EBT" in the App Store or Google Play. The cardholder app shows your balance and transaction list on your phone.
At the register or an ATM. Most grocery store terminals show your remaining balance after a SNAP purchase, and many print it on the receipt. ATMs display cash balances for Families First funds.
Checking your balance is free through every one of these channels. If any website or caller asks you to pay a fee to check an EBT balance, it is a scam.
If Your Deposit Does Not Arrive
Work through these steps in order before calling.
- Confirm your date. Double-check the last two digits of the head of household's SSN against the chart above. A lot of "missing" deposits are simply not due yet.
- Wait until end of day. Deposits post at different hours. Give it until the evening of your scheduled date.
- Check for a case action. Log in to the One DHS Customer Portal at onedhs.tn.gov and look for notices. A missed recertification, an unreturned interview, or an outstanding verification document is the single most common reason benefits stop.
- Look at your recertification date. SNAP certification periods end on a fixed schedule. If yours expired and the renewal was not completed, benefits stop entirely rather than arriving late.
- Call TDHS. The One DHS Contact Center is at 1-833-772-8347 (1-833-772-TDHS). For card and transaction problems specifically, call EBT customer service at 1-866-311-4287.
If your balance shows purchases you did not make, report it immediately. Card skimming has hit EBT cardholders in many states, and the faster a compromised card is frozen, the better your odds of replacement.
Do Unused Tennessee SNAP Benefits Expire?
Unused SNAP benefits roll over to the next month. There is no requirement to spend your full allotment before your next deposit, and leftover funds are added to your new balance.
Benefits are removed only after long inactivity. Federal rules allow states to expunge SNAP balances on accounts with no card activity for 274 days, roughly nine months. Making at least one purchase during that window keeps the account active and the balance intact.
If your card has been sitting unused because you moved, changed jobs, or forgot about a small balance, use it once and the clock resets.
Protecting Your Card
A few habits reduce the risk of theft:
- Change your PIN regularly, and change it right before your deposit date. Skimmers capture card and PIN data, then drain accounts within minutes of a deposit posting.
- Avoid obvious PINs such as birth years or repeating digits.
- Inspect card readers before swiping. A loose, bulky, or misaligned reader is a red flag.
- Check your balance and transaction history often so unauthorized use is caught early.
- Use the card-freeze feature through the cardholder app or portal if you are not shopping.
Federal replacement of stolen SNAP benefits has been limited since the end of the temporary replacement program, so prevention matters more than it used to. Report theft to TDHS immediately either way.
2026 Tennessee SNAP Income Limits
Tennessee applies the standard federal income tests rather than the expanded limits used by states with broad-based categorical eligibility. Most households must pass both a gross income test at 130% of the Federal Poverty Level and a net income test at 100% of FPL. These figures apply for the federal fiscal year running October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026.
Gross Monthly Income Limits (130% FPL)
| 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 |
Net Monthly Income Limits (100% FPL)
Net income is what remains after allowable deductions: the standard deduction, a 20% earned income deduction, dependent care costs, child support paid, excess shelter costs, and out-of-pocket medical expenses over $35 for elderly or disabled members.
| Household Size | Maximum Net Monthly Income |
|---|
| 1 | $1,305 |
| 2 | $1,763 |
| 3 | $2,221 |
| 4 | $2,680 |
| 5 | $3,138 |
| 6 | $3,596 |
| 7 | $4,055 |
| 8 | $4,513 |
| Each additional person | +$459 |
Households with a member who is age 60 or older or has a qualifying disability are exempt from the gross income test and only need to meet the net income limit.
Asset Limits
Tennessee also applies a resource test. For fiscal year 2026, countable resources are limited to approximately $3,000 for most households and $4,500 for households with a member who is age 60 or older or has a disability. Your home, retirement accounts, and most vehicles used for transportation are not counted.
For a deeper breakdown, see our guide to Tennessee SNAP income limits for 2026.
2026 Maximum SNAP Benefit Amounts
Maximum allotments are set by household size and apply to households with zero net income. Most households receive less, because the calculation subtracts roughly 30% of net income from the maximum.
| 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 |
These amounts are effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026, and they reset each October with the federal cost-of-living adjustment. The average Tennessee SNAP household receives well under the maximum, typically around $415 per month across the state.
Where Tennessee EBT Works
Your card is accepted at most grocery stores, supermarkets, supercenters, and many farmers markets across Tennessee, including Kroger, Walmart, Publix, Food City, Aldi, and Save A Lot. Look for the QUEST logo at the register.
SNAP benefits also work for online grocery orders through participating retailers such as Amazon and Walmart, including pickup and delivery. Your SNAP balance covers eligible food only. Delivery fees, service charges, and tips must be paid with a separate card.
Eligible items include breads, cereals, fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, poultry, dairy, snack foods, non-alcoholic beverages, and seeds and plants that produce food. Hot prepared foods, alcohol, tobacco, vitamins, pet food, and household supplies are not covered.
Work Requirements to Watch in 2026
Federal changes enacted in 2025 expanded the age range for able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWD) work requirements. The upper age limit moved from 54 to 64, which means more Tennessee adults now face a three-month time limit on benefits within a 36-month period unless they work, train, or volunteer at least 80 hours per month, or qualify for an exemption.
Exemptions still apply to people who are pregnant, medically unfit for work, caring for a child under 6 or an incapacitated person, or already meeting the hours through employment or an approved program. If you receive a notice about work requirements, respond before the deadline. Losing benefits over a paperwork deadline is far more common than losing them over eligibility.
How to Apply for SNAP in Tennessee
If you are not enrolled yet, TDHS offers several ways to apply.
Online. The One DHS Customer Portal at onedhs.tn.gov is the fastest route. Create an account, submit the application, and upload verification documents in the same place.
By phone. Call the One DHS Contact Center at 1-833-772-8347 for help applying or to request a paper application.
In person. Visit a local TDHS office. Office locations are listed on the TDHS website at tn.gov/humanservices.
By mail or fax. Paper applications can be printed, completed, and returned to TDHS.
After you apply, TDHS has 30 days to process a standard application, or 7 days for expedited cases. You will need an interview, which is usually done by phone. Have ID, proof of income, housing costs, and utility costs ready.
Step-by-step instructions are in our guide on how to apply for SNAP in Tennessee, and you can browse every assistance program available in the state at benefitsusa.org/states/tennessee.
Frequently Asked Questions
What day does Tennessee EBT deposit in 2026?
Between the 1st and the 20th of each month, based on the last two digits of the head of household's Social Security number. SSNs ending 00 to 04 get the 1st, and SSNs ending 95 to 99 get the 20th, with each group of five digits assigned to one day in between.
How do I find my Tennessee EBT deposit date?
Take the last two digits of the head of household's SSN and match them to the chart above. You can also see your deposit date by logging in at faonlineapp.dhs.tn.gov or by calling 1-866-311-4287.
Does Tennessee EBT deposit on weekends and holidays?
Yes. Tennessee generally issues benefits on the same numbered day each month regardless of whether it is a Saturday, Sunday, or federal holiday. Funds can post in the early morning rather than exactly at midnight.
What time do Tennessee SNAP benefits load?
Most cardholders see benefits by the early morning of their scheduled date. If nothing has posted by mid-morning, check again in the afternoon before calling.
Why did I not get my Tennessee SNAP benefits this month?
The most common causes are an expired certification period, a missed renewal interview, or a verification document TDHS is still waiting on. Log in to the One DHS Customer Portal to check for notices, then call 1-833-772-8347 if nothing explains the gap.
Do Tennessee SNAP benefits roll over to the next month?
Yes. Unused benefits carry over and are added to your next deposit. They are only removed after about 274 days with no card activity.
When does Families First cash assistance deposit in Tennessee?
Families First cash benefits are issued on the 1st of the month for ongoing cases, separate from the SNAP deposit schedule.
What is the income limit for SNAP in Tennessee in 2026?
Most households must have gross monthly income at or below 130% of the Federal Poverty Level, which is $1,696 for one person and $3,483 for a household of four, plus net income at or below 100% of FPL. Households with an elderly or disabled member skip the gross income test.
How much is the maximum SNAP benefit in Tennessee?
For fiscal year 2026, the maximum is $298 for a one-person household and $994 for a household of four. Most households receive less based on income and deductions.
What number do I call about my Tennessee EBT card?
Call 1-866-311-4287 for balance, PIN changes, lost or stolen cards, and transaction disputes. For case and eligibility questions, call the One DHS Contact Center at 1-833-772-8347.
