Utah SNAP benefits load onto a Horizon EBT card once a month and can only be spent on groceries at approved stores, farmers markets, and a list of online retailers. The Utah Department of Workforce Services (DWS) sets the amount from your household size, your income, and a short list of deductions. For federal fiscal year 2027, which runs October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027, the maximum monthly allotment runs from $306 for one person to $1,841 for eight people, plus $225 for each additional person. Utah also has a rule most states do not: since January 1, 2026, soft drinks cannot be bought with SNAP in Utah.
This page covers what the benefit pays and what the card buys after you are approved. If you are still checking whether you qualify, see Utah SNAP Eligibility 2026. For your exact monthly deposit date, see Utah EBT Deposit Schedule 2026. You can also check SNAP alongside other state programs on our Utah benefits page.
What the Utah Horizon Card Covers
The Horizon card works like a prepaid debit card at the register. Federal rules set most of what it buys, and DWS lists these categories:
- Breads and cereals
- Fruits and vegetables
- Meats, fish, and poultry
- Dairy products
- Plants and seeds that grow food for your household to eat
Snack foods and most drinks are also eligible under federal rules. The exception in Utah is soft drinks, covered below.
What the Horizon Card Does Not Cover
- Soft drinks, under Utah's own state rule (see below)
- Hot, prepared foods such as deli sandwiches, rotisserie chicken, or restaurant food
- Alcohol, including beer, wine, and liquor
- Tobacco products
- Vitamins, supplements, and medicine
- Paper products, soap, laundry detergent, and cleaning supplies
- Personal care items such as shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, and makeup
- Pet food
- Delivery fees, service charges, and tips on online grocery orders
Utah does not operate a Restaurant Meals Program, the option nine states use to let elderly, disabled, and unhoused participants buy prepared restaurant meals with EBT. Because Utah has not adopted it, the hot-food rule applies to everyone in the state. A rotisserie chicken under the heat lamp is not covered. The same chicken sold cold from the deli case is.
The Utah Soft Drink Rule, Effective January 1, 2026
Utah was one of the first states to get a USDA waiver narrowing the SNAP-eligible food list. Nebraska received the first approval in May 2025. House Bill 403, passed in Utah's 2025 session, directed DWS to request a waiver, and USDA approved Utah's on June 10, 2025. Since January 1, 2026, Utah SNAP participants cannot buy soft drinks with their Horizon card. The rule is still in force: the June 2026 federal court ruling that stopped similar rules in five other states did not cover Utah.
DWS defines a soft drink as a non-alcoholic flavored drink containing carbonated water and sweetened with sugar or artificial sweetener. The definition does not reach:
- Milk or drinks made with milk, including chocolate milk
- Drinks made with soy, rice, or other milk substitutes
- Drinks that are more than half real fruit or vegetable juice
Candy is not restricted in Utah. Neither is unsweetened sparkling water, since the rule requires both carbonation and sweetener. Ineligible soft drinks must be paid for separately with cash, a debit card, or another form of payment. Retailers with questions can email contactSNAPwaiver@utah.gov; participants should call Eligibility Services at 1-866-435-7414.
Utah SNAP Maximum Monthly Allotment, FY2027
These are the federal maximums for the 48 contiguous states and Washington, DC, reproduced in Utah's own eligibility policy manual as Table 2, effective October 1, 2026. They hold through September 30, 2027.
| Household Size | Maximum Monthly Allotment |
|---|
| 1 | $306 |
| 2 | $562 |
| 3 | $808 |
| 4 | $1,023 |
| 5 | $1,217 |
| 6 | $1,463 |
| 7 | $1,616 |
| 8 | $1,841 |
| Each additional person | add $225 |
Only households with essentially no countable income get the maximum. Most approved Utah households get less, because the formula subtracts 30% of net income from the maximum. A one-person or two-person household that qualifies but computes to a very small figure still gets a minimum benefit of $25 a month. That floor does not extend further: a household of three or more whose calculation lands at zero gets nothing.
How DWS Calculates Your Benefit Amount
Utah starts with your household's total monthly income, subtracts the allowed deductions to get net income, then subtracts 30% of that net income from the maximum allotment for your household size.
The deductions for FY2027:
| Deduction | FY2027 Amount |
|---|
| Standard deduction, 1 to 3 people | $217 |
| Standard deduction, 4 people | $229 |
| Standard deduction, 5 people | $268 |
| Standard deduction, 6 or more | $308 |
| Earned income deduction | 20% of gross earnings |
| Excess shelter deduction cap | $769 (no cap if a member is elderly or disabled) |
| Medical expenses, elderly or disabled members | amount above $35 a month |
| Dependent care | actual cost |
| Legally owed child support paid out | actual amount |
Two changes are worth knowing. Internet and broadband costs stopped counting toward the shelter and utility deduction on July 4, 2025, so a household that used to claim internet service no longer can. And the excess shelter deduction only applies to housing costs above half of your income after the other deductions, which is why two households with the same rent can land on very different benefit amounts.
A Worked Example
A Utah household of three with $2,200 a month in wages and $1,100 in rent:
- Gross income $2,200 is under the $2,960 gross limit for three people, so the household clears the first test.
- Subtract 20% of earnings, $440, leaving $1,760.
- Subtract the $217 standard deduction, leaving $1,543.
- Half of $1,543 is $771.50. Rent of $1,100 exceeds that by $328.50, which is under the $769 cap, so the full $328.50 is deductible.
- Net income is $1,543 minus $328.50, or about $1,215. That is well under the $2,277 net limit for three people.
- 30% of net income is about $365. Subtract that from the $808 maximum for three people.
The estimated benefit is roughly $443 a month. Change the rent, the household size, or the income and the answer moves. DWS runs the real calculation after your interview.
Utah Income Limits for FY2027
Utah is not a broad-based categorical eligibility state, so most households must pass both the gross and net income tests, and the asset test too. That makes Utah stricter than the majority of states, where clearing one gross limit is enough. The figures below are from Utah's Table 2, effective October 1, 2026.
| Household Size | Gross Monthly (130%) | Net Monthly (100%) | Elderly/Disabled (165%) |
|---|
| 1 | $1,729 | $1,330 | $2,195 |
| 2 | $2,345 | $1,804 | $2,976 |
| 3 | $2,960 | $2,277 | $3,757 |
| 4 | $3,575 | $2,750 | $4,538 |
| 5 | $4,191 | $3,224 | $5,319 |
| 6 | $4,806 | $3,697 | $6,100 |
| 7 | $5,421 | $4,170 | $6,881 |
| 8 | $6,037 | $4,644 | $7,662 |
Three exceptions matter. A household where everyone already receives the Family Employment Program, SSI, or General Assistance may skip the income tests entirely. A household with a member who is 60 or older, or who receives certain disability payments, only has to meet the net income test. And the 165% column is used for household composition questions, not as a benefit limit.
Utah's countable resource limit is $3,000 for most households. For a household with a member who is 60 or older or has a disability, Utah's eligibility manual applies $4,750 from October 1, 2026, although the DWS customer page still prints the old $4,500 figure. Your car and other motorized vehicles are generally not counted. A single lottery or gambling prize of $4,750 or more before taxes ends eligibility until your resources drop back under the limit.
When Your Benefits Arrive
Utah stages deposits across three days of the month, keyed to the first letter of your last name:
| Last Name Begins With | Benefits Available |
|---|
| A to G | 5th of the month |
| H to O | 11th of the month |
| P to Z | 15th of the month |
Benefits do not reset at the end of the month. Anything you do not spend rolls over. There is one hard deadline: Utah benefits expire 274 days after the last time you used the card, and expired benefits cannot be reissued. Using the card even once every few months keeps the balance alive.
Where the Horizon Card Works in Utah
The card is accepted at grocery stores, supermarkets, convenience stores, superstores, wholesale clubs, and many Utah farmers markets. USDA's retailer locator shows authorized stores near any address.
For online grocery orders, USDA lists these Utah retailers as accepting SNAP payment online, among others: Amazon, Walmart, Target, Costco, Sam's Club Scan and Go, Albertsons, Smith's Food and Drug, Macey's, Lin's Fresh Market, Dan's Fresh Market, Davis Food and Drug, Sprouts Farmers Market, Whole Foods, Thrive Market, Dollar General, Family Dollar, and Walgreens. At checkout the cart splits automatically: SNAP-eligible items go to the EBT card, everything else to a second payment method. Delivery fees, service charges, and tips always come out of your own money.
A note on card locking. In the ConnectEBT app, blocking online and out-of-state purchases is the standard setting for every Utah card. DWS calls Lock Everywhere, which locks the card until you unlock it to shop, the best option for protecting your benefits, and it does not recommend Unlock Everywhere.
Utah Programs That Stretch SNAP Further
Utah runs a produce incentive through the Department of Health and Human Services Community Food Security Program:
- Double Up Food Bucks. Spend $1 of SNAP at a participating farmers market, farm stand, or CSA and earn $2 in Double Up Food Bucks for fresh fruits and vegetables, up to $20 per day. Four Utah grocery stores also participate, applying an automatic discount on fresh produce paid for with SNAP: Davis Food and Drug in La Verkin, Roosevelt, and Vernal, and Gouldings Grocery Store in Monument Valley.
- Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program. $50 in annual coupons for eligible seniors, good for fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, and honey at authorized sites. Coupons go out first come, first served. Hotline: 1-800-453-3663.
- Utah Produce Rx. A fruit and vegetable prescription issued at participating clinics, worth up to $300, for patients under 125% of the poverty level.
Lost Cards, Stolen Benefits, and Spoiled Food
Lost or stolen card. Report it immediately through the ConnectEBT app, the ConnectEBT client portal, the Utah Horizon EBT Helpdesk at 800-997-4444, or DWS at 801-526-0950. The card is deactivated on the spot and a replacement is mailed. You set a new PIN when it arrives. Two-day priority mailing can be requested from the helpdesk for a charge of up to $10.
Benefits stolen or used without permission. Change your PIN first, then report the card stolen and request a replacement. Federal replacement of benefits stolen by card skimming ended in December 2024 and has not been renewed, so there is no guarantee that stolen benefits come back. Checking your balance and transaction history regularly in the app is the only reliable defense.
Food destroyed by a household misfortune. If food bought with the current month's SNAP benefit is destroyed in a house fire, flood, or similar event, the benefits may be replaced. Contact DWS at 801-526-0950 within 10 days of the event.
Returns. You can return SNAP-purchased food, but the money has to go back onto the EBT card. No cash, no gift cards. Utah allows one return per day, capped at $350 a day and $700 a month, and the refund cannot exceed what you paid.
Wrong charges. Call the Horizon EBT Helpdesk at 800-997-4444 to dispute a transaction. If an ATM debits your cash account without dispensing, report that to the same number.
Summer EBT in Utah
Utah ran SUN Bucks, the federal Summer EBT program, in summer 2025, as a one-time $120 per eligible school-age child for groceries. Children approved for SNAP, TANF, or Medicaid qualified automatically, as did children approved for free or reduced-price school meals.
Utah did not take part in summer 2026, and DWS states that SUN Bucks will not be offered in the summer of 2027 either. Do not count on a summer deposit for 2027. Other summer food options remain: free summer meal sites at schools, parks, and neighborhood locations, rural grab-and-go or delivery meals where available, and food pantries reachable by calling 211.
The Time Limit That Can End Your Benefits
Utah calls it Time-Limited SNAP Participants, or TLSP, the rule most states still label ABAWD. Under federal law changed on July 4, 2025, adults 18 through 64 with no child under 14 in the household can usually receive SNAP for only 3 months in any 36-month period unless they do one of the following:
- Work at least 20 hours a week, or an average of 80 hours a month
- Train or attend a qualifying program at least 20 hours a week
- Combine work and training to reach 20 hours a week
- Receive unemployment compensation
- Meet another federal exemption
Pregnant women stay exempt. Veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and former foster youth are no longer exempt, which is a change from the pre-2025 rule many older pages still print. As of October 1, 2026 there are no statewide time-limit waivers anywhere, and Utah has no county-level waiver either, so the clock runs statewide. If you are near the three-month mark, ask DWS about the SNAP Employment and Training program, which counts as a qualifying activity.
Two other Utah rules interrupt benefits. Quitting a job or cutting your own hours can affect eligibility. And missing a recertification deadline closes the case, which means reapplying from scratch. Households where every adult is 65 or older with no earned income, or every adult has a disability with no countable earned income, can use the Elderly Simplified Application Process, which approves benefits for a three-year period and requires an interview only at the first application.
How to Apply or Check Your Balance
- Apply or recertify: jobs.utah.gov/mycase. Benefits start the day you submit, so submitting a partial application with your name, address, and signature preserves that date. You can complete the rest afterward.
- Request a paper application: call DWS at 801-526-0950 or 866-435-7414 to have one mailed to you.
- Check balance and transaction history: the ConnectEBT mobile app, connectebt.com, or the Horizon Card Helpdesk at 1-800-997-4444. The last two months of purchases also show in myCase.
- Expedited service: if you qualify, benefits arrive within seven days and the only document required is proof of identity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum SNAP benefit in Utah for 2026?
For federal fiscal year 2027, which started October 1, 2026, the maximum monthly allotment is $306 for one person, $562 for two, $808 for three, and $1,023 for four, up to $1,841 for eight people. Each person beyond eight adds $225. Most Utah households receive less than the maximum.
Can I still buy soda with my Utah EBT card?
No. Since January 1, 2026, soft drinks are not SNAP-eligible in Utah under House Bill 403 and a USDA waiver. A soft drink means a non-alcoholic flavored drink with carbonated water that is sweetened with sugar or artificial sweetener. Milk drinks, milk substitutes, and drinks more than half real juice are still eligible. Candy is not restricted in Utah.
Can I buy hot food with my Utah Horizon card?
No. Hot, prepared foods are excluded, and Utah does not run a Restaurant Meals Program, so there is no exception for elderly, disabled, or unhoused participants. Cold deli items and anything you prepare at home are covered.
Do my Utah SNAP benefits expire?
Unused benefits roll over month to month, but they expire 274 days after the last time you used the card, and expired benefits cannot be reissued. Make at least one purchase every few months to keep the balance active.
What day do Utah SNAP benefits get deposited?
The 5th if your last name starts with A through G, the 11th for H through O, and the 15th for P through Z.
Does Utah have an asset limit for SNAP?
Yes. Utah does not use broad-based categorical eligibility, so the resource test applies: $3,000 in countable resources for most households. For households with a member 60 or older or with a disability, Utah's eligibility manual applies $4,750 from October 1, 2026, though the DWS customer page still lists $4,500. Vehicles are generally excluded. A single lottery or gambling prize of $4,750 or more ends eligibility until resources drop back under the limit.
Will Utah offer SUN Bucks in summer 2027?
No. Utah did not run SUN Bucks in summer 2026, and DWS states that it will not be offered in the summer of 2027. Free summer meal sites, rural meal delivery where available, and food pantries through 211 are the alternatives.
What happens if my food spoils or burns?
If food bought with the current month's benefit is destroyed by a household misfortune such as a fire, call DWS at 801-526-0950 within 10 days. Those benefits may be replaced.
Why did my Utah SNAP amount go down?
The most common causes are a raise or more work hours, a household member moving out, losing a deduction such as a dependent care or medical expense, or the internet deduction that stopped counting in July 2025. Report changes through myCase so your amount is recalculated on the right figures rather than corrected later as an overpayment.
