> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.dollarlabs.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.dollarlabs.io/dollarback-store-credit/earning-cashback-programs/set-up-birthday-rewards.md).

# Set up birthday rewards

{% embed url="<https://dollarlabs.neetorecord.com/watch/ff0b68b9575d33f79d52>" %}

*This article's section starts at 1:08 in the video.*

A birthday reward is a one-shot credit issued on the customer's birthday. You configure the amount once; DollarBack collects birthdays, schedules each customer's credit, and issues it automatically on the day.

## Prerequisites

* The floating widget active in your theme, since it contains the birthday form customers fill in ([Activate widgets in your theme](/dollarback-store-credit/getting-started/activate-widgets-in-your-theme.md))

## Step 1: Create the program

1. Open **DollarBack admin → Cashback** and choose the **Birthday gift** type.
2. Set the credit amount (say $10) and optional start/end dates.
3. Save and enable the program.

## Step 2: Collect birthdays

DollarBack needs to know each customer's birthday before it can schedule anything. There are two ways in:

**The widget form (no work needed).** Once a birthday program is enabled, the floating widget's "ways to earn" area shows a birthday form to signed-in customers. When a customer submits their date, DollarBack stores it on their profile.

**The Merchant API (for custom storefronts or your own forms).** Your server can submit a birthday with:

```
POST /api/v1/merchant/birthday
```

The request carries the customer ID, the birthday (day / month / year), the birthday program's config ID, and the customer's currency, authenticated with your API key. Details and examples: [Merchant API: keys & endpoints](/dollarback-store-credit/developer-tools/merchant-api-keys-and-endpoints.md).

Either way, the birthday is saved to the customer's profile (as a customer metafield), so it survives and doesn't need to be re-collected each year.

## Step 3: What happens on the day

When a birthday is submitted, DollarBack computes the customer's **next eligible credit date** and queues a scheduled reward. On the date, the credit is issued automatically. The customer gets the credited email (if enabled) and sees the balance in the widget and their account.

You can watch the queue in **DollarBack admin → Analytics → Scheduled Rewards**: pending rewards show the customer and the date they'll fire; completed and failed entries stay visible for auditing.

{% hint style="info" %}
If a customer submits a birthday that already passed this year, the reward is scheduled for their **next** birthday; it isn't paid immediately or backdated.
{% endhint %}

## Verify it works

1. Sign in to your storefront as a test customer and submit a birthday in the widget form.
2. In **Analytics → Scheduled Rewards**, confirm a pending entry exists for that customer with the expected date.
3. To see the payout end to end without waiting a year, submit a test birthday a day or two ahead and check the credit lands on the date.

## Common issues

* No scheduled entry after submitting: the program may be disabled or outside its date window; check **DollarBack admin → Cashback**.
* The widget shows no birthday form: the program must be enabled and the customer signed in; see [A widget isn't showing on my store](/dollarback-store-credit/troubleshooting-and-faq/widget-isnt-showing.md).
* Credit scheduled but never arrived: check the entry's status in **Scheduled Rewards**, then [A customer didn't receive cashback](/dollarback-store-credit/troubleshooting-and-faq/customer-didnt-receive-cashback.md).

## Related articles

* [Cashback program types at a glance](/dollarback-store-credit/earning-cashback-programs/cashback-program-types-at-a-glance.md)
* [Custom rewards via API](/dollarback-store-credit/earning-cashback-programs/custom-rewards-via-api.md)
* [When credit is issued](/dollarback-store-credit/earning-cashback-programs/when-credit-is-issued.md)
* [Credit logs & scheduled rewards](/dollarback-store-credit/analytics-data-and-account/credit-logs-and-scheduled-rewards.md)