If My Food Stamps Are Ending How Long Do I Have To Use My Balance?

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In this community resource guide, you will learn when do SNAP benefits expire?

If your food stamps eligibility will be ending soon, you may be considering spending what is left on your EBT card to make sure that you get all of your benefits.

Should this be your plan, you’ll want to know exactly when do food stamp expire and you can learn the answer to this question in the next paragraph.

Do Food Stamps Expire?

Yes, food stamps do expire. For most states, you have 365 days to use your SNAP benefits once they are uploaded to your EBT card.

If you do not use those benefits before the food stamp expiration date then you lose those funds on your EBT card. Remember, you have 365 days or 1 year to use your food stamp balance before you lose those benefits.

If My Food Stamps Are Expiring How Long Do I Have To Use My Benefits?

You have 365 days to use the food stamp after they are placed on your EBT card. For example…

If you received food stamp benefits on February 16th, 2022, then those food stamps would expire one year later on February 16th, 2023.

For most states, you have 365 days or 1 year to use your benefits from the day you receive them.

Do Food Stamps Roll Over?

Yes, food stamps will roll over from month to month. If you have a balance left on your EBT card at the end of the month, do not feel pressured to spend that amount because it will roll over to the next month.

Your food stamps will remain on your EBT card and continue to roll over each month for 1 year after they are uploaded. Once 1 year passes those benefits will expire and you will not be able to use them.

Regarding the question of “do food stamps roll over to the next month” the answer is yes.

What Happens If You Go For Months Without Using Your EBT Card?

If your EBT card is rarely used, the local food stamp office may contact you and ask questions.

There is no penalty if you go for months without using your food stamps card, but again the health and human services department in your state may call you to ask why you have not made any recent purchases with your EBT card.

Conclusion

You have 365 days to use your food stamp balance after it is uploaded to your EBT card. If you received $300 in food stamp benefits today, those benefits would expire 365 days from now.

In another scenario, let’s say that your SNAP benefits are ending today.  You would still have access to benefits on your EBT card that you received 6 months ago because 1 year or 365 days have not passed since you received those benefits. 

Typically food stamp benefits expire 365 days from the date you receive them. This is a general explanation, but each state has slightly different rules. To learn when SNAP benefits expire in your state, you are encouraged to call the SNAP hotline phone number at 800.221.5689.

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