Many families in the United States rely on government support to meet their daily needs. One of the most important programs for this is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly called food stamps. In May 2025, a new round of SNAP payments has begun, and millions of Americans are set to receive their benefits.
Let’s understand who qualifies, how much they can get, and when the money will arrive.
What Is SNAP and Who Benefits?
SNAP is a federal program that helps low-income households buy food. Each month, over 42 million people across all 50 states and Washington D.C. receive this benefit. That means around 12.6% of the U.S. population depends on it. The main goal of the program is to ensure that people don’t go hungry even when their income is limited.
One of the states with the largest number of beneficiaries is Texas, where more than 3.4 million households are enrolled. The program is managed by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) in that state.
SNAP Payment Schedule in Texas: May 2025
In Texas, SNAP benefits are not issued on a single day. Instead, payments are spread out over the entire month based on each household’s Eligibility Determination Group (EDG) number and certification date.
For Households Certified Before June 1, 2020:
Payments are made between May 1 and May 15, depending on the last digit of the EDG number:
If your EDG ends in 0 → May 1
Ends in 1 → May 3
Ends in 2 → May 5
Ends in 3 → May 6
Ends in 4 → May 7
Ends in 5 → May 9
Ends in 6 → May 11
Ends in 7 → May 12
Ends in 8 → May 13
Ends in 9 → May 15
For Households Certified After June 1, 2022:
Payments come between May 16 and May 28, based on a more detailed EDG range:
May 16 → EDG ending in 00–03 and 54–57
May 17 → EDG ending in 04–06 and 58–60
May 18 → EDG ending in 07–10 and 61–64
May 19 → EDG ending in 11–13 and 65–67
May 20 → EDG ending in 14–17 and 68–71
May 21 → EDG ending in 18–20 and 72–74
May 22 → EDG ending in 21–24 and 75–78
May 23 → EDG ending in 25–27 and 79–81
May 24 → EDG ending in 28–31 and 82–85
May 25 → EDG ending in 32–34 and 86–88
May 26 → EDG ending in 35–38 and 89–92
May 27 → EDG ending in 39–41, 46–49 and 93–95
May 28 → EDG ending in 42–45, 50–53 and 96–99
SNAP Benefits by Household Size (Effective Till Sept 2025)
The amount each family receives depends on the number of people in the household. For the 2025 financial year, the following maximum amounts are approved:
1 person → $292
2 people → $536
3 people → $768
4 people → $975
5 people → $1,158
6 people → $1,390
7 people → $1,536
8 people → $1,756
Each additional person → Add $220
These rates are set by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and will remain valid from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025.
SNAP continues to be a lifeline for millions of American families, especially in times of high inflation and economic struggle. With clear dates now announced for May 2025, recipients in states like Texas can plan their grocery shopping and household budgets better. As food prices continue to be a concern, programs like SNAP help in ensuring that everyone has access to basic nutrition.
