SNAP Users in Texas: Miss This June Deadline and Say Goodbye to Your Benefits

If you or your family are using SNAP also known as food stamps in Texas there s something essential coming up this June your recertification It might sound like a fancy administration word but all it really means is the state wants to make sure you re still eligible to keep getting help with groceries And if you don t take care of it on time your benefits can stop even if you still qualify So let s walk through what s happening what to do and how to make sure you don t miss out on anything When Should You Renew The rule of thumb Try to get your renewal done by mid-June Technically Texas asks you to renew about days before your current benefits end which for preponderance people will mean sometime around June Don t wait until the last week of the month things get backed up and delays can pause your benefits If your current SNAP benefits end on June make it a goal to have everything submitted by the th That way you give yourself a cushion if anything comes up How Will You Know It s Time Texas will usually send you a renewal notice about days before your current benefits end That notice will tell you everything you need The last day your current benefits are developing What info or documents they need from you If a phone interview is required The exact date your renewal is due You might get this notice by mail or see it in your YourTexasBenefits com account But here s the catch if your address or phone number changed not long ago make sure it s updated in the system Otherwise you could miss that notice entirely How Do You Renew You ve got options use whichever is easiest for you Online at YourTexasBenefits com Through the Your Texas Benefits app Mail or fax the paperwork you receive Or walk into your local HHS office and do it in person In chosen cases you ll also need to complete a short phone interview If that applies to you the notice you receive will include instructions When Will You Get Your SNAP Benefits in June Texas spreads out SNAP payments across the month Your deposit date depends on something called your EDG number Eligibility Determination Group number which is listed on your incident paperwork or online account Here s how it works If you were approved before June your benefits usually arrive between June and June If you were approved after that you ll likely get them between June and June Each person s date is tied to the last insufficient digits of their EDG number So if yours ends in you might see your funds hit the Lone Star card on June If it ends in that could mean June and so on It s staggered so not everyone gets their money on the same day If you re not sure when your card is reloaded just log in to your account and check your deposit history That usually gives you a good idea of what to expect What Happens If You Miss the Deadline Honestly It s not great If you miss the recertification deadline your benefits will stop no questions questioned And even if it was an accident or a small delay you might have to start over with a brand new application That can take a couple of weeks sometimes longer which means a gap in your benefits Even just missing the interview or forgetting to send in one piece of paperwork can hold things up The safest move Get it done early breathe easy A Quick To-Do List Here s a simple checklist so you don t miss a step Keep an eye out for your renewal notice in early June Submit your renewal ideally by June Complete the interview if one s required Make sure your address and phone number are up to date Check your Lone Star card for your deposit date Renewing your SNAP benefits doesn t have to be stressful but it can be easy to forget when life gets busy Set a reminder take minutes to knock it out and keep that assistance coming for you and your family If you re unsure about your deadline or how to renew don t wait Log in to YourTexasBenefits com or call - - There are people who can walk you through it And if you want I can help write this up in a version you can text or email to someone just let me know