Why Your EBT Deposit Might Be Late and What to Do

Several factors can cause a delay in your EBT deposit, from administrative backlogs to technical issues. Understanding these common reasons can help clarify why your benefits might not have arrived on schedule.

Administrative or Eligibility Snags

Your benefits may be on hold due to paperwork issues. This can happen if a required six-month or annual report was not submitted on time. Delays can also occur if your interview is still pending or if the county is reviewing discrepancies in your income, household size, or immigration status.

Heavy County Caseloads and Staff Shortages

County human services offices sometimes face high caseloads combined with staffing shortages. This can create a backlog, slowing down the review and approval process for benefit applications and renewals, which in turn delays when funds are authorized and deposited.

Technical Glitches

The state's technology plays a big part in benefit delivery. An outage or glitch in the Colorado Benefits Management System (CBMS) or the EBT transaction platform can postpone the daily file transfer that loads funds onto your card.

Holidays and Emergencies

Benefit distribution can be paused when county offices close for state or federal holidays. Weather emergencies that shut down government operations can also delay the nightly file that releases benefits until staff can return to work and resume processing.

Government Shutdowns

A federal government shutdown can directly impact EBT deposits. If federal agencies lack the authority to send out monthly funds, both SNAP and cash assistance payments can be pushed back until a new budget or resolution is passed by Congress.

Do EBT Benefits Expire or Roll Over?

In Colorado, any unused SNAP or cash assistance benefits automatically roll over to the next month. You are not required to spend your full balance within the month it is issued. This policy applies to all funds on your EBT card.

However, each deposit does have an expiration date. Individual benefit deposits remain available for 274 days from their posting date. After this period, any unspent funds are permanently removed from your account.

This expungement rule covers all cash benefits, including Colorado Works/TANF and one-time payments like Energy EBT. Once these funds are removed, they cannot be reinstated or extended.

How to Make Your EBT Benefits Last the Whole Month

Making your EBT benefits last all month comes down to careful planning and mindful spending. With a few adjustments to your routine, you can stretch your budget and avoid running low on funds before your next deposit arrives. Adopting a few new habits can make a significant difference in your monthly food budget.

Track Your Balance and Earn Cashback

Download the Benny app and link your Colorado EBT card once. The app shows your real-time balance for both SNAP and cash benefits after every purchase, so you always know what you have left to spend.

Benny also provides EBT-eligible cashback when you shop at partner stores like Walmart, Costco, and Trader Joe’s. The extra money is automatically added back to your card for future use.

Double Your Produce Dollars

Use the Double Up Food Bucks program at participating grocery stores and farmers markets. For every $1 of SNAP you spend on Colorado-grown fruits and vegetables, you will earn another $1 to spend later, up to $20 per day.

Get a Bonus for Fresh Produce

The Colorado SNAP Produce Bonus is another way to save. This program automatically refunds up to $60 of your fresh-produce spending back onto your EBT card each month, giving you more to spend on healthy food.

Plan Around the Deposit Calendar

Colorado distributes SNAP benefits between the 1st and 10th of each month. Check the state's deposit schedule to find your exact date based on the last digit of your Social Security number.

Once you know your date, divide your total benefit by the remaining weeks to set a weekly spending limit. Buy shelf-stable items first, and save weekly funds for fresh food later in the month to avoid a shortfall.

Time Your Shopping for Markdowns

Look for markdowns on perishable items at grocers like King Soopers and Safeway. Stores often discount these items by 30-50 percent late in the evening or on Wednesdays because of their sales tactics.

Buy these discounted foods, portion them, and freeze them right away. Colorado’s high-altitude, low-humidity climate helps reduce freezer burn, making it easier to turn one shopping trip into several future meals.