I Didn’t Get My Food Stamps This Month – What Should You Do?
With over 41 million Americans enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), it is no surprise if a small fraction of that number experience a few hiccups occasionally. One of the fairly common complaints is, “I didn’t get my food stamps this month; what could be the reason?”
Keep reading if this is a problem you’ve faced recently. This quick guide looks at possible reasons for not receiving food assistance and suggests steps to correct the problem.
Changes in Benefits Deposit Schedule
Typically, SNAP benefits are deposited into your Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card on the same date of every month. That said, the deposit schedule may change, leading to delays in the funds appearing on your card and in your EBT account.
What You Can Do
Contact your local SNAP office to know if there has been any change in the SNAP EBT benefits deposit schedule. If this is the case, you will also be informed of the date to expect monthly refills in your food stamp account.
Your SNAP Account Balance Is Abnormally High
One of the possible reasons your EBT card wasn’t reloaded is that your food stamp balance is too high. Your SNAP benefits account is not a regular savings account, so it is better not to leave too much balance on the account. In fact, you risk losing your food stamp balance if it is too high.
What You Can Do
If you didn’t get food stamps this month because your balances are abnormally high, your best bet would be to contact your local SNAP office and explain why your food stamp balances are high. The issue can be resolved if you have concrete reasons. Always remember that your food stamp funds are considered a use-it-or-lose-it type of balance.
Delay Due to Holidays
“What could be the reason I didn’t get my food stamps this month?” It may not be anything serious in some cases. For example, it is normal for SNAP deposits to delay a bit if they fall on holidays or weekends.
What You Can Do
A one or two-day delay isn’t any cause for alarm, especially if your normal food stamp deposit date falls on a holiday or weekend. However, you should contact your local SNAP office to find out if the delay is caused by a holiday or the weekend.
Your SNAP Account Is Dormant
Your food stamps may not refill if you don’t use your EBT card or SNAP account for extended periods. Food stamp funds on your benefits account will be removed if you don’t use them for nine months.
The funds will be removed on a month-by-month basis until it is empty, and refills will not happen during this period. However, before SNAP benefits are removed from your account, you will receive a letter from your local SNAP office.
Also, your EBT account card may be taken offline if you’ve not used it for months. Depending on your state, you may not be able to access the benefits on your card after 60 to 90 days.
What You Can Do
If you didn’t receive food stamps this month (or any month, for that matter), check your mail to see if there’s a letter from SNAP asking why you aren’t using your benefits. If you have not used your EBT card for several months but are still interested in receiving food stamps, contact your local SNAP to indicate your interest.
You Did Not Recertify for SNAP
Missing your SNAP recertification date is another possible reason you didn’t get your food stamp benefits this month. Qualifying for SNAP doesn’t mean you will continue to receive benefits indefinitely.
Typically, your SNAP approval letter states how long you can receive assistance. You need to recertify (or renew) for SNAP benefits at the end of your certification period to determine whether you are still eligible for the assistance program. The process involves submitting a recertification form online or via mail.
What You Can Do
Call your state SNAP or EBT customer service if you didn’t get food stamp benefits this month because you forgot to recertify for SNAP. The sooner you call and set up an appointment for recertification, the better your chances of getting your benefits refilled.
Your SNAP Account Is Closed
You can’t receive food stamp benefits if your SNAP benefits account is closed. Account closure usually happens when the program determines that you have violated one or more SNAP rules.
In addition to closing your food assistance account, you might be fined or jailed if you give out your EBT card to someone outside your household, sell your food stamp benefits, or break SNAP food benefit rules in any way.
What You Can Do
If SNAP determines you have violated its rules, it will send you a letter notifying you of the account closure and explaining why you will no longer receive food stamp benefits. You can contact your local SNAP office if you think the decision was a mistake.
Conclusion
“What could be the reason I didn’t get my food stamps this month?” Now you know the possible causes and what you can do to rectify the problem. In most cases, contacting your local SNAP office will help solve the problem.
