About the SNAP Distribution Schedule Database

This page provides the following information:

Background

The SNAP Distribution Schedule Database provides the monthly distribution schedule for SNAP benefits in each of the 50 States and the District of Columbia since 1998. The monthly SNAP benefit is posted to the household’s account on a single day each month, but in most States, not all participant households receive their benefit on the same day. The current distribution schedule is posted by the Food and Nutrition Service.

The database documents the first and last calendar day of distribution in the month, whether benefits are distributed on each day in that span, and the exact calendar days of distribution if distribution is not uniform. Additional information is also provided for States with more complex distribution schedules, such as variation across counties.

The information in this database can facilitate research on how the receipt of SNAP benefits influences food consumption, expenditures, and other behaviors. More specifically, the database can be used to:

  • Describe differences in and changes over time in the State-level SNAP distribution schedules,
  • Estimate the effect of time since receiving SNAP benefits on outcomes such as health and food spending; this can be achieved by combining this data set with nationally representative survey data.

Machine-readable files are also available for the complete Excel database and for each tab in the database:

Recommended citation

Economic Research Service (ERS), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). SNAP Distribution Schedule Database, SNAP Policy Data Sets. https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/snap-policy-data-sets/

Acknowledgments

The Economic Research Service would like to acknowledge the support it has received in compiling the information for the SNAP Distribution Schedule Database. The database is primarily based on information supplied by USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) through the SNAP Monthly Benefit Issuance Schedule and correspondence with Bob Dalrymple and other FNS staff. Assistance in obtaining most of the New York City schedules was provided by Miguelina Diaz of Hunger Free NYC, while most Pennsylvania schedules were provided by Brian Whorl of the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. Additional information came from a variety of sources, including press releases, web searches, and various State government websites and posted documents.