The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP benefits) is a federal program designed to help lower income and at-risk families have access to healthy food. Though technically a federal program, it is mostly run by the states so that their residents can get the specific help that they need, aided by an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card.
But although it is intended to be used mostly for food, there are other things covered by the funds that most people in the program are not aware of.
What can you buy with your EBT card?
Food online: Your EBT card can be used to purchase eligible items online from eligible retailers in your state. However, your card can only be used for purchasing food items, excluding payment for delivery, shipping, or associated fees. Additionally, being enrolled in SNAP may render you eligible for free or low-cost internet services, potentially expanding your options for online food purchases if not already available.
Plant seeds and seedlings: If you have the space, embrace your green thumb or indulge in the satisfaction of growing your own food by utilizing SNAP benefits to acquire seeds or seedlings. Eligible items are those seeds and seedlings that produce vegetables, fruits, and herbs.
Water and bags of ice: Your EBT card enables the purchase of bottled water, bags of ice, crushed and blocked ice.
Meals at restaurants: Some states (Arizona, California, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Rhode Island, and Virginia) participate in the SNAP Restaurant Meals Program (RMP), allowing certain beneficiaries to use their EBT card for purchasing prepared meals at specific restaurants. Eligibility for this program typically extends to individuals aged 60 or older, those with disabilities, or individuals experiencing homelessness. The program has been approved in New York but it has not been implemented.
Fishing and hunting gear: those eligible SNAP benefits in remote areas of Alaska with limited access to retail food outlets can purchase hunting and fishing equipment for food procurement with their card. Eligible items include bows and arrows, fishing rods, harpoons, and knives.
Coffee and tea: While hot beverages such as ready-to-sip coffee and lattes are ineligible, brew-it-yourself coffee and tea are permissible for purchase with SNAP benefits.
Cold drinks: Purchase of cold beverages like iced coffees, smoothies, and fountain drinks intended for home consumption is allowed, unlike steaming hot beverages.
Meal replacement shakes: SNAP benefits may be used for purchasing meal replacement shakes provided they bear a Nutrition Facts label instead of a Supplement Facts label.
Protein powders, bars, and shakes: Similar to meal replacement shakes, protein powders, bars, or shakes with Nutrition Facts labels are eligible for purchase using SNAP benefits.
Energy drinks: Eligible energy drinks, indicated by a Nutrition Facts label, can be purchased using your EBT card.
Baby formula: SNAP benefits extend to the purchase of infant formula, cereals, juices, and baby food to support the nutritional needs of infants. Enrollees in SNAP may also be automatically eligible for WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) which offers additional nutrition benefits and health services.
Live lobsters and other seafood: SNAP benefits can be used to purchase live seafood, including shellfish like lobster, shrimp, and clams, as well as live fish. However, due to their typically high cost, individuals may opt not to utilize SNAP benefits for such premium items, as it may limit funds available for other purchases.
Bakery cakes and edible food decorations: Celebratory occasions allow for the purchase of bakery cakes and edible food decorations using SNAP benefits, provided that nonedible decorations constitute no more than half the cake’s cost.
Gift baskets: Purchase of gift baskets is permitted using SNAP benefits, given that eligible food items comprise at least 50% of the total cost. For instance, a gift basket containing fruits, crackers, cheeses, and a small toy would likely qualify, as everything except the toy qualifies as an eligible food item. To make your life easier, ensure that most of the basket is edible and does not include alcohol.
Military commissary items: SNAP benefits can be used for purchasing items at military commissaries, akin to grocery stores, situated within military installations in the U.S. and overseas. Shoppers are exempt from the 5% surcharge typically applied at military commissaries when utilizing SNAP benefits, and no user fee is charged for transactions made with an EBT card.
What can’t you buy with SNAP benefits?
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a strict policy for items that cannot, under any circumstances be paid with SNAP benefits.
Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes, and tobacco: SNAP benefits cannot be used to purchase any alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, or related items. This encompasses low-alcohol beers labeled as non-alcoholic, liquor-filled chocolates, dealcoholized wine, and e-liquid for electronic cigarettes. However, certain items like cooking wine, wine vinegar, and vanilla extract are permissible for purchase since they are utilized as cooking ingredients.
Vitamins, medicines, and supplements: Items bearing a Supplement Facts label, indicating them as supplements, are ineligible for purchase using SNAP funds.
Live animals: With exceptions outlined earlier for live shellfish, live fish removed from water, and animals slaughtered before pick-up from the store, SNAP benefits cannot be utilized for purchasing live animals.
Hot, prepared foods: SNAP benefits cannot be used to purchase hot, prepared foods such as chili, stew, hot cocoa, or prepared meats.
Non-food items: benefits cannot be used for purchasing non-food items, including pet food, cleaning supplies, hygiene items, cosmetics, and cooking utensils.