SNAP Benefits Update: Here's How You Can Maximize Your EBT Card, Food Stamp Payments

An average of more than 41 million low-income people in the United States receive SNAP benefits payments. The program aims to help struggling individuals and households to have enough food on their tables.

SNAP benefits have many not-so-known perks for recipients, such as restaurant meals. According to The Motley Fool, some states offer restaurant meals that can be paid for using SNAP benefits, especially if you live in Arizona, California, Michigan, and Virginia, among others.

States participating in the Restaurant Meals Program allow seniors 60 and older and disabled and homeless adults to use their SNAP benefits payments to purchase restaurant meals.

To take advantage of these SNAP benefits, recipients must get approval from the state and sign an agreement with the Food and Nutrition Service.

SNAP Benefits Perks

In other SNAP benefits perks, recipients can enjoy the ability to purchase hunting and fishing gear needed to procure their own food. This perk is solely available for some Alaskan residents, particularly those living in remote areas.

Alaskan SNAP benefits recipients can also buy junk food and luxury items using their food stamps, according to EBT Card Balance. Soft drinks, candy, cookies, snack crackers, and ice creams are therefore eligible.

Bakery cakes are also eligible for Alaska residents receiving SNAP benefits. Pre-packed gift baskets can also be bought using SNAP benefits or food stamps as long as at least 50% of the basket's value is made up of food, This is Michigan Life reported.

SNAP benefits recipients can find gift baskets in grocery stores. But if you are looking for more variety, Amazon has different product options. If you are going to shop on Amazon, you can use the sort feature that filters out non-EBT-eligible items to find gift baskets that qualify.

Pet food products are non-eligible for SNAP benefits, including other live animals. However, lobsters are an exception to the rule. Live fish are also another exception if they are removed from the body of water where they were caught.

Where to Use an EBT Card?

EBT cards can also be used to avail of discounts on different services, including Amazon Prime. EBT cards can allow you to avail of low-cost internet from AT&T if you live in 21 states it is available.

There are no commitments, deposits, or installation fees to avail of the service. However, you will have to show proof that you are currently enrolled in SNAP.

Some SNAP benefits recipients can also purchase a laptop or desktop computer in Comcast, which is another company that offers low-cost internet for EBT cardholders.

EBT cardholders can also avail of free museum admission or enter the premise at a discounted price. More than 300 museums across the country will give you or your family free admission by simply showing your EBT card.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

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