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Arkansas EBT news
Reviewed Arkansas-specific EBT and SNAP news items about benefit timing, eligibility, and program rules.
Updated on: August 21, 2026
Independent information tool. Not a government website.
Arkansas’ USDA-approved SNAP food restriction waiver began July 1, 2026, and continues to affect EBT purchases during August and September 2026. The waiver restricts purchases of soda, fruit and vegetable drinks with less than 50% natural juice, energy drinks, “unhealthy drinks,” and candy.
USDA’s SNAP food restriction waiver list showed Arkansas with a July 1, 2026 target implementation date to restrict SNAP purchases of soda, fruit and vegetable drinks with less than 50% natural juice, energy drinks or other unhealthy drinks, and candy. The national court ruling may affect implementation.
Arkansas changed its statewide EBT processor over the weekend of July 25–26, 2026. During the scheduled downtime, Arkansas SNAP/EBT clients may have been unable to use EBT cards for online or in-person SNAP/EBT orders until transactions resumed.
Arkansas SNAP and Summer EBT benefits can no longer be used to buy soda, candy, fruit or vegetable drinks with less than 50% natural juice, and other “unhealthy beverages.” The Arkansas SNAP Nutrition Waiver program went into effect July 1, 2026.
Arkansas’s USDA-approved SNAP food restriction waiver took effect July 1, 2026. The change restricts SNAP purchases of soda, low- and no-calorie soda, fruit and vegetable drinks with less than 50% natural juice, “unhealthy drinks,” and candy; flavored water, carbonated flavored water, and sports drinks are not restricted.
Arkansas proceeded with its July 1, 2026 SNAP purchase restrictions despite a federal court ruling blocking similar restrictions in other states. The ban affects SNAP purchases of candy and soda in Arkansas during the current month.
Arkansas’ SNAP food-restriction waiver was approved to take effect July 1, 2026, excluding soda, low- and no-calorie soda, fruit and vegetable drinks with less than 50% natural juice, other unhealthy drinks, and candy from SNAP purchases. The July implementation is affected by the federal court ruling vacating USDA food-restriction waiver approvals.
USDA/FNA lists Arkansas with a July 1, 2026 target implementation date for SNAP purchase restrictions covering soda, fruit and vegetable drinks with less than 50% natural juice, energy drinks/unhealthy drinks, and candy.
Arkansas’ USDA-approved SNAP food restriction waiver took effect July 1, 2026. The waiver restricts SNAP purchases of soda, low- and no-calorie soda, fruit and vegetable drinks with less than 50% natural juice, other unhealthy drinks, and candy.
Forage’s EBT status page lists Arkansas scheduled downtime from Saturday, July 25, 2026 at 11:00 p.m. CT into the morning of Sunday, July 26, 2026, while Arkansas switches its statewide EBT processor. During the maintenance window, Arkansas SNAP/EBT clients may be unable to use EBT cards for online or in-person SNAP/EBT orders.
Forage’s EBT status page lists scheduled Arkansas downtime from July 25 to July 26, 2026, scheduled for July 26 from 12:00 AM to 4:00 AM EDT. During the maintenance window, Arkansas SNAP/EBT transactions may be unavailable.
Arkansas DHS required all Summer EBT recipients to reset card PINs after theft reports, and said the cards will not work until the additional step is completed. DHS also said that at the end of July 2026 Arkansas will move to a new vendor to issue and administer EBT cards, with new security features to be added.
Arkansas implemented a SNAP nutrition waiver on July 1, 2026. SNAP benefits can no longer be used in Arkansas to buy soda, low- or no-calorie soda, fruit and vegetable drinks with less than 50% natural juice, other restricted unhealthy drinks, or candy.
Arkansas’ approved SNAP food restriction waiver has a target implementation date of July 1, 2026. The waiver restricts SNAP purchases of soda, fruit and vegetable drinks with less than 50% natural juice, unhealthy drinks, and candy.
Arkansas DHS said the state’s new SNAP nutrition waiver also applies to Summer EBT benefits starting July 1, 2026. Families can no longer use Summer EBT benefits to purchase candy, soda, or other unhealthy beverages.