Why Your EBT Deposit Might Be Late and What to Do

Several factors can cause a delay in your EBT deposit, from paperwork snags to statewide emergencies.

Administrative or Eligibility Snags

Paperwork issues are a common reason for holds. If recertification forms are late or incomplete, your case is suspended until the review is finished. Missing documents like proof of income or housing costs also stall benefits. A missed interview can freeze an account, and reported changes like a new household member may trigger a recalculation that briefly holds the deposit. Pending overpayment claims can also stop benefits until the matter is resolved.

Disaster-Related Workload Spikes

Major events like hurricanes can strain the system. When Louisiana opens Disaster SNAP (DSNAP) or issues mass replacements, the surge in calls and file uploads can slow down regular benefit deposits. Federal waivers that extend deadlines or add replacement benefits also require manual processing, pushing normal payment files further down the queue.

Staffing and Operational Constraints

Internal challenges at the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) can also lead to delays. Documented staff shortages mean it takes longer for workers to clear cases and release benefits. Temporary office closures or a shift to remote work can also slow down essential tasks like document scanning and supervisor approvals needed to load funds.

System or Fraud-Related Holds

Technical glitches or security flags can interrupt the payment schedule. A statewide EBT network outage may force the state to delay loading funds until the system is restored. Additionally, accounts flagged for unusual activity might be suspended while DCFS investigates, delaying the next deposit.

Do EBT Benefits Expire or Roll Over?

Unused EBT benefits in Louisiana do not disappear at the end of the month. Instead, your remaining balance rolls over, allowing you to use the funds in the future.

Food Assistance Benefits

Your food assistance balance from programs like SNAP, DSNAP, or P-EBT carries forward until you spend it. Funds are only removed if they have been on the card for nine months and the card has seen no activity during that same period.

Any use of the card, even for a small purchase, restarts the nine-month clock for your entire food balance. Once benefits are removed, they cannot be re-added, but your case remains open to receive future monthly allotments.

Cash Assistance Benefits

The nine-month removal rule does not apply to cash assistance programs like FITAP or Kinship Care. Unspent cash simply rolls over each month and stays on your card until you withdraw or spend it.

You must keep the account active to prevent it from being marked as dormant. A simple purchase, withdrawal, or balance inquiry is enough. Accounts with no activity for a year or more may be closed, with funds transferred to unclaimed property.