From what I remember from last year, I think it's a few months into the year. You'll get to go online and choose which places you want the $250 from. You can pick as many as you want and it's just all divided up. Then they'll send you the gift card in the mail. So, I don't think it's RIGHT after the first of the year. You could email the home office to ask them and I'm sure they'd tell you the plan. Congratulations!!!