Get More Than Groceries With Your SNAP Benefits
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, or Food Stamps) is a crucial lifeline for Americans facing food insecurity, providing them with vital food assistance. But did you know you can use your SNAP benefits for more than just food?
Yes, it’s true!
From FREE cell phone service to reduced-price Amazon Prime membership, convenient grocery delivery services, and additional financial assistance, your SNAP benefits can do more for you than ever before!
Finding ways to use your monthly budget efficiently can be difficult, but with the right guidance, its entirely possible. These often-overlooked additional benefits and services can help you make the most use of your SNAP Food Stamp benefits and ease the strain on your wallet.
Follow along as we uncover the wealth of resources available to SNAP EBT card recipients. Together, we can ensure that Americans across the country can stay in touch with loved ones and have access to the support and essentials they needed to succeed.
Use Your SNAP Benefits for FREE Phone Service Every Month
Staying connected in this digital age is more than a convenience – it’s a necessity. Thankfully, the federal Lifeline Program and the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) exist to provide eligible households with discounted phone and Internet services.
If you or someone in your household receives SNAP benefits or participates in other government assistance programs, you can automatically qualify for FREE monthly cell phone service with UNLIMITED* Data, Talk & Text!
You can learn more about Lifeline and the ACP by reading our blog, where we discuss the history of these programs, the discounts they provide, their eligibility requirements, and how to apply for FREE cell phone service.
The importance of staying connected can’t be overstated. Whether you’re coordinating family gatherings, reaching out to loved ones, or accessing vital information and services, having reliable cell phone service can completely transform your life.
How to Get FREE Government Phone Service With Food Stamps
Q Link Wireless, America’s #1 Online Lifeline Service Provider, offers millions of low-income individuals and families FREE UNLIMITED* cell phone service every month. Signing up with Q Link Wireless is fast and easy and there are NO activation fees, NO monthly bills, NO contracts, and NO credit checks required.
You can get approved in minutes and quickly receive a New SIM Card Kit with FAST & FREE Shipping right to your home. Lifeline and ACP service providers like Q Link Wireless use the same network providers as the major carriers, so you’ll enjoy the same reliable nationwide 4G LTE/5G coverage for $0 a month.
Use Your SNAP Benefits for Prime Access, a Reduced-price Amazon Prime Membership
Did you know you can enjoy all of the Prime benefits for half the price if you’re a SNAP recipient or EBT cardholder? Well, now you do!
Amazon is renowned for its array of benefits, including free and fast shipping and access to a vast library of movies, music, and exclusive deals. However, these services are often inaccessible to individuals facing financial challenges.
Luckily, the retail giant has designed a reduced-price membership known as Prime Access to make these benefits more accessible to low-income individuals participating in qualifying government programs like SNAP, Medicaid, and more.
New members start with a free 30-day trial and only pay $6.99 a month afterward. The regular price of a Prime membership is $14.99 a month, so it’s quite the bargain!
Prime Access is a valuable resource that makes online shopping, entertainment, and grocery purchasing more affordable and accessible! If you’re a SNAP recipient, signing up for Prime Access should be on your to-do list. That way, you can enhance your shopping and entertainment experience.
Use Your SNAP Benefits for Food Delivery Services Like Amazon Fresh, DoorDash & Grubhub
Amazon Fresh
While we’re on the subject of Amazon Prime, one key benefit available exclusively to SNAP recipients and EBT cardholders is Amazon Fresh.
Typically, you would need a Prime membership to use this service, but Amazon is making SNAP-eligible groceries like pantry staples, shelf-stable food, and household items accessible to customers who shop with a SNAP EBT card – no Prime membership required.
DoorDash & More
In an effort to help improve food access to individuals and families across the country, the grocery delivery service known as DoorDash now accepts online SNAP EBT card payments.
Other companies like Amazon, FarmboxRx, Instacart, Target, and Walmart also allow SNAP EBT cardholders to pay for groceries online.
This initiative brings low-income households closer to achieving food security and reliable access to the essential nutrition needed to stay healthy.
Grubhub+
If you receive SNAP or Food Stamps, you can enjoy even more online shopping convenience with a free year of Grubhub+, an exclusive perk available with your Prime Access membership. You may not be able to use your SNAP benefits to pay for food on Grubhub (See SNAP-eligible food items), but you can still take advantage of the following benefits to give you access to more food options and make your budget go further:
- UNLIMITED $0 delivery fees
- Lower service fees
- 5% back on pickup orders
- Exclusive restaurant offers
Use Your SNAP Benefits to Get Fresh, Healthy Foods at Farmer’s Markets
Farmer’s markets are lively centers for fresh, locally sourced produce that provide healthy nourishment and add flavor to meals. It might surprise you to know that many markets have adopted more modern electronic payment methods to accommodate SNAP EBT card purchases.
Not only that, buying local produce directly from their source can actually be more affordable and cheaper than buying from grocery stores since major chains will mark up the price on items to offset transportation and import costs.
Now that more and more farmers markets have started accepting SNAP EBT card payments, you have much wider access a range of farm-fresh, healthy food options. Shopping at farmer’s markets also lets you connect with local growers and small business owners, allowing you to gain insight into the season’s best offerings and learn new ways to prepare unique dishes.
Prioritizing fresh, nutrient-rich foods over pre-packaged items from major grocery stores provides direct support to local farmers and communities while at the same time helping you manage your health better since you’ll know exactly what you’re buying and where it was grown. Locally sourced produce is full of high-quality nutrients as well as essential vitamins and minerals that support your well-being and it’s not as expensive as it once was.
The next time you need groceries, consider using your SNAP EBT benefits to shop at your local farmer’s market. Not only will it elevate the flavor profiles of your meals, buying fresh and locally grown ingredients can actually save you money and help your budget go further.
Use Your SNAP Benefits & Double Up Your Food Bucks
Did you know you can receive a dollar-for-dollar match when you spend your SNAP benefits on fresh fruits and vegetables at participating stores or farmer’s markets? It’s all thanks to a groundbreaking initiative known as the Double Up Food Bucks Program (Double Up).
This essential program addresses the financial barriers that often prevent individuals from choosing fresh produce and makes it more affordable for SNAP shoppers to buy healthier groceries.
What started as a local Michigan program in 2009 has now spread across 30 states, with over 1,700 participating locations – from small community-based farmers markets to local grocery stores. In 2022, over 763,000 families nationwide benefited from the Double Up program, generating over $48 million in SNAP and Double Up dollars1.
If you’re a SNAP EBT cardholder, this initiative gives you more flexibility for food budgeting and incentivizes you to shop for healthier meal ingredients and get twice the fruits and veggies for your family.
So, if you’re looking to maximize your SNAP benefits, the Double Up Food Bucks Program can literally help you get more for your money.
Double the Impact of Your SNAP EBT Benefits
As a SNAP EBT cardholder you have access to a wide range of benefits like never seen before. The programs and services we’ve covered so far merely scratch the surface.
From the gift of connectivity through FREE UNLIMITED* cell phone service with Q Link Wireless to the comprehensive benefits of a reduced-price Amazon Prime membership via Prime Access, knowing about these supplemental SNAP benefits can help you navigate your monthly budget with greater ease and give you more financial flexibility.
This convenience goes even further thanks to grocery delivery services like Amazon Fresh, DoorDash, and Grubhub+, which provide a hassle-free way to obtain essential meals without leaving the comfort of home.
Even as a SNAP EBT recipient, you can address your nutritional needs without breaking the bank thanks to the abundance of high-quality, fresh ingredients from local farmers’ markets. Combine this with the dollar-for-dollar match provided by the Double Up Food Bucks program, and you can amplify the impact of your SNAP benefits two-fold.
If you’re a SNAP/Food Stamp recipient, we highly encourage you to embrace these opportunities and take advantage of these supplementary programs. Doing so can enrich your day-to-day life and support the well-being of your family and community.
Stay Connected 24/7 With FREE Phone Service Using SNAP
As we reflect on the opportunities offered to SNAP EBT recipients, we cannot stress enough the importance of staying connected to loved ones and essential services.
When you sign up for FREE cell phone service with Q Link Wireless, you can enjoy UNLIMITED* Data, Talk & Text on one of America’s largest 4G LTE/5G networks with no monthly bills, hidden fees, contracts, or credit checks.
Having one less expense during the year opens up a world of possibilities for SNAP EBT recipients and can drastically change how you plan for the future.
Disclaimers:
*UNLIMITED Data & Talk is an offer funded by the ACP. See Terms & Conditions. Must qualify.
References:
1. Double Up Food Bucks Program Statistics – https://fairfoodnetwork.org/what-we-do/nutrition-incentives/
