In Texas, an EDG number is a nine-digit Eligibility Determination Group identifier that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) assigns to a group of household members applying together for a specific benefit program, such as SNAP, TANF, or Medicaid.1Texas Health and Human Services. C-810, Texas Integrated Eligibility Redesign System It labels your case, and its last digits also set the day of the month your benefits land on your Lone Star Card.
What the Number Represents
An EDG is not tied to one person. It represents a group of people in a household whose income, resources, needs, and deductions are evaluated together for a single program.1Texas Health and Human Services. C-810, Texas Integrated Eligibility Redesign System
One household often has several EDG numbers at once. A family approved for both TANF cash assistance and SNAP food benefits gets a separate nine-digit EDG for each case, and children in the home may have their own Medicaid EDG on top of that.1Texas Health and Human Services. C-810, Texas Integrated Eligibility Redesign System Each program has its own rules, so HHSC keeps the groups separate even when the same people appear in more than one.
Where to Find Your EDG Number
The most reliable place is the TF0001, the Notice of Case Action. HHSC mails this form whenever benefits are approved, denied, or changed, and the EDG number appears near the top.2Texas Health and Human Services. M-2000, Case Disposition3Texas Health and Human Services. Lone Star Card FAQ
You can also log in to the YourTexasBenefits website or mobile app to view your active cases. Formal letters and renewal notices stored in the digital message center carry the EDG number just like the mailed versions.
If you can’t find any of those, call HHSC at 800-777-7328.3Texas Health and Human Services. Lone Star Card FAQ A caseworker can pull the number after verifying your identity. Have your name, date of birth, and Social Security number ready.
Why Your EDG Number Sets Your Benefit Date
The digits at the end of your EDG number decide which day of the month your benefits are loaded onto your Lone Star Card. SNAP and TANF use different formulas.
SNAP
SNAP benefits are staggered across the first 28 days of the month based on the last two digits of your SNAP EDG number.4Texas Health and Human Services. B-250, EBT Benefit Issuance
- 00–03: Day 1
- 04–06: Day 2
- 07–10: Day 3
- 11–13: Day 4
- 14–17: Day 5
- 18–20: Day 6
- 21–24: Day 7
- 25–27: Day 8
- 28–31: Day 9
- 32–34: Day 10
- 35–38: Day 11
- 39–41: Day 12
- 42–45: Day 13
- 46–49: Day 14
- 50–53: Day 15
- 54–57: Day 16
- 58–60: Day 17
- 61–64: Day 18
- 65–67: Day 19
- 68–71: Day 20
- 72–74: Day 21
- 75–78: Day 22
- 79–81: Day 23
- 82–85: Day 24
- 86–88: Day 25
- 89–92: Day 26
- 93–95: Day 27
- 96–99: Day 28
If the last two digits of your SNAP EDG are 46, for example, your food benefits load on the 14th each month.
TANF
TANF uses only the last single digit of the TANF EDG number, and benefits are spread across just the first three days of the month:4Texas Health and Human Services. B-250, EBT Benefit Issuance
- 0, 1, 2, or 3: Day 1
- 4, 5, or 6: Day 2
- 7, 8, or 9: Day 3
Who Belongs in the Group
The people grouped under one EDG depend on the program. For SNAP, Texas follows federal household rules that generally require certain people living together to be certified as a single group. The most common required pairings are children under 22 who live with a parent (natural, adoptive, or step), children under 18 living with any adult who has parental control, and spouses living together.5Texas Health and Human Services. A-230, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
There are exceptions. A foster child can be included in or left out of the foster parent’s SNAP group at the household’s choice. A child under 18 who is married, emancipated, or buys and prepares food separately from the adults in the home may be able to apply alone.5Texas Health and Human Services. A-230, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Who sits in your EDG affects both income calculations and the benefit amount.
Changes You Need to Report
Because the EDG ties your household’s financial and personal details to your benefits, some life changes have to be reported to HHSC. Required reports include moving out of state, any address change, and gaining or losing health insurance.6Texas Health and Human Services. E-2210, How to Report a Change Changes in income or household size can also shift who belongs in the group and how much you receive.
Not reporting changes can create overpayments that HHSC will later recover, or underpayments that leave your household short. Once a change is reported, HHSC updates the electronic case record attached to your EDG and sends a new TF0001 reflecting the adjustment.2Texas Health and Human Services. M-2000, Case Disposition